Indian-born composer set to debut work in Beijing

In August 2008, the Chinese opera Mulan made its debut at the Vienna State Opera House. The opera not only won praise from audiences in the Austrian capital but also witnessed the start of a friendship between Guan Xia, the composer of the opera, and Vijay Upadhyaya, who conducted the rehearsal of the Vienna Imperial Philharmonic Choir for the opera.

"I can still recall how Upadhyaya trained the chorus so efficiently and impressively," says Guan.

In 2009, Guan, the director of the China National Symphony Orchestra, invited Upadhyaya to be the conductor and composer for the Chinese National Orchestra and Chorus.