Tribute to Maria Callas
40th Anniversary Memorial Concert
Ying Huang × Matthias Foremny
Guangzhou Symphony Hall & Shanghai Symphony Hall · February 2017
Overview
In February 2017, soprano Ying Huang, hailed as “The Nightingale from China,” paid tribute to one of the greatest legends in opera history — Maria Callas — on the 40th anniversary of her passing.
Presented at the Guangzhou Symphony Hall and the Shanghai Symphony Hall, this commemorative concert united two of China’s leading orchestras under the baton of distinguished German conductor Matthias Foremny, creating a profound dialogue between Eastern lyricism and Western operatic tradition.
The program traced the evolution of European opera — from Handel’s Baroque poise and Mozart’s Classical grace, to Rossini’s bel canto brilliance and Wagner’s late-Romantic drama — culminating in Puccini’s shimmering Italian passion. It was both a tribute to Callas’s immortal repertoire and a reflection of Ying Huang’s own artistic journey, blending technical mastery with deep emotional resonance.
Program
Richard Wagner — Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
George Frideric Handel — Lascia ch’io pianga (from Rinaldo)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Voi avete un cor fedele, K.217 (from The Wedding)
Richard Wagner — Prelude and Liebestod (from Tristan und Isolde)
Richard Wagner — Act III Prelude (from Lohengrin)
Gaetano Donizetti — Quel guardo il Cavaliere (from Don Pasquale)
Gioachino Rossini — Bel raggio lusinghier (from Semiramide)
Richard Wagner — Good Friday Music (from Parsifal)
Giacomo Puccini — Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (from La Rondine)
Gioachino Rossini — Una voce poco fa (from Il barbiere di Siviglia)
Gallery
Artists
Ying Huang — Soprano
Renowned for her radiant timbre, expressive grace, and effortless technique, Ying Huang is one of the most acclaimed Chinese sopranos on today’s international stage.
Her career spans opera, concert, and film, including performances at the Metropolitan Opera and collaborations with leading orchestras worldwide. Her artistry bridges East and West — marked by refined musicality, emotional sincerity, and a distinctive warmth that has earned her the title “The Nightingale from China.”
Matthias Foremny — Conductor
A leading figure in the German operatic and symphonic tradition, Matthias Foremny is celebrated for his clarity, precision, and intellectual depth.
He has held principal conducting posts with the Leipzig Opera, Dresden Philharmonic, and serves as Professor of Conducting at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts.
Equally at home in Wagner, Mozart, and Strauss, Foremny’s artistry unites structural discipline with lyrical sensitivity — qualities that shaped this concert’s seamless interplay between orchestra and voice.