By Joshua Shi

　　The opera recital was not held at the Shanghai Grand Theatre or the Concert Hall but rather in the Old China Hand Reading Room on quiet Shaoxing Road of photograher, Deke Erh.
　　And the invisible theatre extended simultaneously via the Internet(www.shanghaipress.com) to more than 12,000 people around the world.
　　Probably for the first time, the audience and the singers gathered, face to face, in one room lined with many shelves of various Chinese and foreign books, pictures, old furniture and interesting pieces of art.
　　The room was bathed in a mild, cosy light and the focus of attention of the few dozen attentive Chinese and foreign listeners – most of whom came much earlier than seven o’clock last Saturday night – was the singer who stood by a piano and the pianist.
　　The stunning songs resonated in the room and shook the book shelves, penetrating the glass windows and attracting many passers-by on Shaoxing Road, who stopped and gathered close to the windows to listen.
　　Soprano Wang Liqin was the first to sing. “I never expected opera could get so close to its audience,” said Wang. “It’s so special to hold an opera salon in this elegant reading room.”
　　The communication between the singers and audiences was constant, direct and active. During the short intervals, audience members talked enthusiastically with the singers in Chinese and English. As it went on, the performance became more and more interactive.
Holding a cup of wine, baritone Yang Xiaoyong jumped on a chair and began to sing the exciting “Votre toast, je peux vous le render” from “Carmen.” Then he jumped off the chair and came close to some listeners while singing.
　　“There are two things I love very much – one is singing and the other the Internet,” Yang said. “And now I can have both.”
　　Two songs later, at the earnest request of the audience, Yang performed the passionate. “O sole mio” joined by tenor Chi Liming and soprano Wang Liqin. The audience responded to them with their full attention, some keeping time with the music.
　　In the West, opera is not confined to the theatre or the concert hall, it is often performed in the salon. The opera salon last Saturday night was just a first attempt in shanghai to have opera in the salon and reach an even wider audience through the Internet.
　　All the three women singers and the two men singers from Shanghai Opera House gave free performances.

Shanghai Star 2000.3.10