Soprano to sing French art songs in Chinese cities

More than a decade ago, soprano Zhang Liping became the first Chinese-born singer to play a lead role with the New York Metropolitan Opera in Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

During her stay abroad, she also performed in operatic productions in Europe and the United States, such as La Traviata, Turandot, Faust and Carmen.

She returned to China in 2006 and has since worked as the director of the department of vocal music and opera at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.