While acclaimed abroad, tenor Deng Xiaojun is actually not so well known in China. Recent local media coverage of the visit of Italian maestro Carlo Bergonzi included photos showing Deng accompanying the 81-year-old master as he stepped off the plane at Beijing's Capital Airport, but few outlets even mentioned his name in their reports.

But in the West the 42-year-old Nanjing native has been compared to world-renowned tenors such as Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. His unique singing style has gained him wide acclaim within the world opera field as "China's Deng."

Bergonzi, one of the top ten tenors in the world, is an authoritative singer of Verdi's operas and "an ambassador of the Bel Canto technique in the world." He has come to China to teach for two weeks at a 24-strong masterclass in Beijing.

Deng, as one of the master's most beloved disciples, flew all the way from Houston where he had just finished a recital to be in the master's company.

Newly arrived at the hotel and despite being almost sleepless over the past 48 hours, Deng looks rather excited.

"I have just had a long and pleasant talk with the master," he explained.

For him, Bergonzi is much more than a teacher. "He is also my musical father, my idol and my backbone," Deng said. "Without him, there wouldn't be any of my present achievements."

Born to a father who was a well-established painter, designer, director and playwright, Deng learnt painting from early childhood.

It was his elder sister, at that time a vocal student in Nanjing Music Academy, who awoke his musical talent. He started vocal training at 18 and gained admittance to the China National Conservatory of Music in 1983.

He was a top student at the university and in his fifth year was selected to be the first Chinese ever to participate in the 28th Verdi International Competition, from where his career took off.

Bergonzi was the chairman of the jury for the competition. Deng passed the first two rounds of competition smoothly. As required in the third round, he had to sing a cabaletta, something he had never heard of, not to mention practiced.

With Bergonzi's help, he went on to win the gold medal of the competition.

What's more, Bergonzi offered to teach him.

"He never takes a student for free, but he made an exception for me," Deng said.

Years later, curiously, Deng asked him why. Bergonzi responded with a smile: "I had never heard such a beautiful voice in years. I couldn't let it go."

Under Bergonzi's instruction, Deng's singing skills developed continually and within four years he had won another five gold medals at prestigious international competitions, including the Fourth Maria Callas Vocal Competition and Bjoerling International Tenor Competition.

His vocal strength and timbre make him a true Verdi and Puccini tenor of the highest echelon.

He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Messenger in "Aida" in the 1995-96 season. He also appeared as soloist in Verdi's "Requiem" at the Aspen Festival.

"Life was all about tight schedules touring around the world," Deng said. "But whenever I could find time, I flew back to Italy to receive the master's directions and suggestions. He always knows how to take care of your voice and make sure that you are on the right track."

Life was all smooth sailing for Deng until in 2001. Deng suffered a salmonella infection. Without proper treatment, he soon came down with severe avascular necrosis, a condition that blocks blood flow to the thighbone and predisposes to fracture.

"The disease is not curable," Deng said. "It is not life threatening, but for a tenor whose life belongs to the stage, it is fatal."

Deng became almost bedridden. While many doubted whether he would come back to the stage, Bergonzi gave him his utmost trust.

Deng returned to China for traditional Chinese medicine treatment, bearing Bergonzi's words in mind: "Men have an unbeatable power, and that is the will."

He also took home piles of musical scores. Each day he rehearsed them for at least six hours, which to him provided such enjoyment that he almost forgot his physical pain.

It was then that Deng came to realize that it was the love and passion for music shared between the two that had bonded them together.

Four years later, when Deng recovered enough to throw away his crutches, he was back on stage, having his first recital since 2001 at the Chinese Conservatory of Music in April, 2005. He sang 18 arias and songs in seven languages and gave 12 encores.

He plans to resume world touring soon and hopes that in the near future he will perform more in China. Better still, if possible he also wants to find time to teach.

Looking back on the past 20 years, Deng said: "China is not short of singers who have the same gift as mine and work as hard as I do. If I have achieved more that's because I've been lucky enough to meet a master like Bergonzi."

(China Daily 08/12/2005 page3)