"Opera is a jewel on the crown of art. It's really hard," said tenor Wu Pan from China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater. Wu is one of the winners of the 17th Wenhua Performance Award, a top accolade for professional stage productions in China. "Opera singing needs endless practice," he said.

Since joining the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater in 2008, Wu has performed in 25 operas and has continued to create comprehensive characters via exploring different singing techniques, timbre and passion. This year, he excelled in the modern opera Xiao Erhei's Marriage as its protagonist, and gained national recognition by winning the triennial award by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with Wu Pan on Wednesday!