Under the baton of Maestro Cao Ding, this landmark concert brings together renowned soprano Ke Lyuwa, acclaimed baritone Christian Haotian Qi, and nearly 200 singers from local Chinese choirs on the stage of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
The first half presents world-famous classical pieces, opera highlights, and performances by group and children’s choirs. The second half of the concert features The Yellow River Cantata — a powerful choral masterpiece by Xian Xinghai and Guang Weiran — honoring the strength, unity, and resilience of the Chinese people.
Blending Chinese themes with Western musical techniques, this commemorative event marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Through passionate expression and rich harmonies, the concert serves as both a tribute to the past and a call to preserve peace for future generations.
Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall
14 July 2025, 7:30 PM
This event is a part of the Australia Chinese Cultural Festival 2025.
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Cao Ding is a National First-Class Conductor and a leading figure in China’s classical music scene. Born into a musical family, he received comprehensive musical training from an early age, studying piano, French horn, vocal performance, and composition. In 1985, he graduated with distinction from the Conducting Department of the Central Conservatory of Music, studying under renowned conductors Li Delun, Yang Hongnian, Huang Feili, and Yan Liangkun. He later pursued advanced studies in the United States under Dr. Herbert Zipper and world-renowned maestro John Nelson.
Cao has served as the resident conductor of the China National Symphony Chorus and guest conductor for major orchestras in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Zhejiang. Since 1997, he has been the Principal Conductor of the Shanghai Opera House and serves as Vice Chairman of the Choral Alliance of the China Musicians Association.
Known for his precise, nuanced technique and emotionally charged performances, Cao Ding has earned widespread acclaim from both professionals and audiences. His recording of The Yellow River Cantata with Hong Kong’s HNH label received the prestigious Gold Disc Award and remains a widely celebrated classic. A passionate advocate for choral music, he continues to champion both Chinese and international repertoire, making him one of the most influential conductors in contemporary China.
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Ke Lyuwa is a renowned young soprano who won First Prize at both the 2nd Nagasaki “Madama Butterfly” International Vocal Competition in Japan and the 4th China International Vocal Competition. She has been recognized by China Central Television as one of the country’s top ten sopranos.
Ke Lvwa graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, where she studied under the legendary soprano and vocal educator Professor Guo Shuzhen—famous for her interpretation of "The Lament of the Yellow River," the sixth movement of the epic choral work The Yellow River Cantata.
She premiered Chen Qigang’s symphonic work Butterfly Lovers at the Shanghai and Beijing International Music Festivals, with a live recording released by EMI. She also collaborated with the China Philharmonic Orchestra to premiere Ye Xiaogang’s Chinese version of Das Lied von der Erde in Beijing, later touring in the U.S., Italy, the U.K., and Germany.
Ke Lyuwa has performed at major state events, including for visiting dignitaries such as U.S. Secretary Hillary Clinton and Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, and was the sole soprano featured at the national banquet commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.
In recent years, she has starred in numerous operas including Madama Butterfly, Eugene Onegin, Sunrise, La Traviata, Rusalka, and The Savage Land. She played the lead role in the original Chinese opera Jianzhen’s Journey to Japan, which premiered at the National Centre for the Performing Arts and toured Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S. In 2017, she starred in Rabe’s Diary, which won the 2018 World Opera Award.
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One of Australia’s finest Baritone Christian Haotian Qi started his operatic career as formal member of the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program with Opera Australia. In 2021 he made his successful role debut as Marcello in La Bohème at the Sydney Opera House.
Christian has performed in numerous Australian cities, as well as in China, Singapore, Italy, Switzerland, and Vienna. He has played major roles in productions such as La Calisto (Sydney Conservatorium), Don Giovanni (Sydney Conservatorium), The Barber of Seville (Opera Australia), Carmen (Opera Australia), Werther (Opera Australia), and The Butterfly Lovers (Victorian Opera). Additionally, he has covered major roles in The Merry Widow, Turandot, The Magic Flute, and Cosi fan tutte with Opera Australia.