The world's hottest property in opera, bass-baritone Bryn Terfel is coming to Shanghai, bringing to life the characters in the classics of Mozart and Wagner.

Terfel will perform at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center on Sunday.

"This will be the first time a world-renowned opera star in his prime performs in Shanghai," says local music critic Li Yanhuan. "Other singers like (Luciano) Pavarotti, (Placido) Domingo and Jessye Norman were upon their retirement age when they staged in Shanghai."

Whether it's opera, art song, folk song, oratorio or popular song, live or recorded, the 41-year-old Terfel is a towering presence in the international music world.

Famous for his great voice, impeccable diction, commanding stage presence and flair for acting, Terfel has appeared in all the major opera houses of the world, with music as diverse as Mozart and Wagner, Puccini and Stravinsky, Verdi and Britten.

In Shanghai, Terfel will sing Mozart's "Overture Nozze di Figaro," "Concert Aria KV 432," "Concert Aria KV 245" and Wagner's "Overture to the Flying Dutchman" (Aria from "Tannhauser" and "Flying Dutchman").

The music will be performed by the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra from Sweden under the baton of Claus Peter Flor.

"He has quickly built up his operatic repertoire and he can sing most pieces, only excluding those Russian compositions," says Li.

Terfel's signature roles include Figaro in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and the title role in Verdi's "Falstaff." In 2004, he made his debut as Wotan in Wagner's "Ring Cycle" at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to rave reviews from the music press.

Terfel first earned fame from the dramatic 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World Lieder prize, when the famous "battle of the baritones" began between Terfel and Russian bass-baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

"They were both so outstanding but finally Hvorostovsky won the first prize and the panel gave Terfel a special prize," says Li.

Now Terfel has more than fulfilled the promise shown in the competition. He sings the full range from German Lieder by Schubert and Schumann to English songs by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Finzi and Ireland, and has recorded several award-winning CDs with this repertoire. The Welsh-born Terfel also performs and records his beloved Welsh folk songs.

He has received awards ranging from the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal performance in 1996 to Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for the platinum-selling Bryn in the 2004 Classical Brit Awards.

The UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra is comprised of more 100 young musicians from 34 countries. Now in its seventh year, it aims to give young talents the opportunity to work with leading international conductors and soloists - this time it's the towering presence of Terfel.

"He has a solid, beautiful voice and most important, unlike many singers who have destroyed their own voice by trying some unsuitable characters, Terfel always knows how to choose repertory that best suits his heavenly voice," says Li.

Date: November 19, 7:30pm
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 60-800 yuan
Tel: 021-6854-1234