Die Fledermaus: Opera in Concert, the first show of Suzhou Symphony Orchestra (SSO)'s 2017 concert season, will be staged at Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre on Jan 14. The performance will be conducted by Xu Zhong, chief conductor of SSO.

Xu is currently director of Shanghai Opera House, chief conductor of Arena di Verona and Summer Opera Festival, music director and chief conductor of Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel.

He has won multiple titles in world famous piano competitions, served as judge for various international piano competitions, and in 2010 he was granted Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

According to Xu, the reason why SSO chose Die Fledermaus for the first show of 2017 concert season is that it is a first-class work with both Vienna style and the essence of opera house and one of the most popular operettas in the world, and also the most frequently performed work at New Year concerts.

Besides, Die Fledermaus: Opera in Concert will focus on beautiful music and the resonance of symphonic music and vocal music while omitting all the dialogues and lines in the play, which will make it easier for the audience to enjoy the cream of this work.  

Xu emphasized, "In China, 'Die Fledermaus' shares a similar pronunciation with 'blessings everywhere', which symbolizes best wishes. That we put on this joyous work right before festival is also the expression of SSO's best wishes for the lunar New Year." 

Aside from SSO, this concert will star Israel's Bat Shir Choir and nine singers from Italy, Russia, Israel, Latvia and Suzhou.