To prepare herself for the role, she hosted a solo concert in Zhengzhou, for which she learned the aria "Sempre libera" from La Traviata.

"That was my first attempt at this character, but my understanding was superficial. It was through rehearsing the entire opera that I truly understood the role," she says.

"This character is a strong female figure. She is so noble, sacrificing her own happiness for others' sake. Few could match her selflessness and devotion. In my mind, she's an angel."

She says that her understanding of and empathy for the role deepened as rehearsals progressed, with the expert direction given by the production team and excellent scene partners who helped one another immerse in the characters.

Li Zhongdang, composer and deputy head of the China Musicians Association's chorus alliance, says that he and other local Henan musicians have long been calling for the establishment of a professional music conservatory in the province.

The Henan Conservatory of Music was finally established in 2022. While it is still part of Zhengzhou University, he has a vision that the conservatory will soon become an independent institution, cultivating music professionals for the province.

"Since its founding, despite the short time frame, the Henan music scene has gone through great changes, especially in music education and the integrated development of education and performance," Li says.

Before La Traviata, Dai Yuqiang was working on a concert that compiled excerpts from original Chinese opera productions. Li says that the concert toured universities within the province with almost 20 performances, providing platforms for young opera singers, students and teachers from the conservatory.

"The creation and performance of La Traviata play a pioneering role in advancing Henan's music scene, particularly in the opera realm. I hope that musicians will produce more original works, especially those that reflect our ethnic music traditions. I have high expectations for this," he adds.