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Borneo Post
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
How one romance is bringing China, Italy closer together
An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the West Lake in Hangzhou. – Xinhua photo HANGZHOU (June 15): The sisterly bond between the Chinese city of Hangzhou and the Italian city of Verona originates from their shared connection to famous love stories celebrated worldwide. The tragic romances of the Chinese Butterfly Lovers and Italy's Romeo and Juliet share similar human sensibilities, despite differences in time and culture. Interestingly, a new romance today, related to both cities, tells a different story about not only love but also transcultural exchanges. Love across continents A young couple – the Italian Leonardo Lazzari, who practices Chinese martial arts, and the Chinese Wu Yingying, who is training to be a soprano – exemplify this cultural connection. The two began living and working in Hangzhou in 2024, four years after they met at a student exchange event in Italy. After that encounter, what began as a casual connection soon grew into a friendship, and Wu's account of her earlier life experiences and other stories sparked in Lazzari a growing fascination with Chinese culture, beyond his accustomed Kung Fu routine. Today, both reside in Hangzhou, not far from Wu's hometown of Wenzhou, where they pursue their respective studies and careers. But an important part of their new life is the shared identity as content creators. They use cameras to capture happy moments of everyday life, drawing a large number of viewers from China and beyond. Lazzari's journey to China began in his childhood, when he trained under a Chinese-Italian master in long fist forms and broadsword techniques. At the age of 13, he attended an intensive martial arts training camp in Zhejiang. Tourists visit the Arena di Verona in Verona, Italy. – Xinhua photo Wu has long had her heart set on becoming a soprano. In 2017, she participated in Italy's Turandot program for international arts students, in the preparatory stage of her musical studies in Italy. 'To us, Hangzhou and Verona, two cities of love, share a resonance across cultures while each radiates its own aesthetic charm,' Wu said. Reflecting on how their lives intertwined, the couple uncovered more links between their homelands. On their social media accounts, East meets West with effortless grace. Scenes with traditional Chinese elegance sit side by side with a slow, Italian warmth. But their videos capture more: a modern, fast-moving, tech-savvy China that often surprises their Italian followers. 'Ordering by QR code, mobile coupons, livestream shopping … these are daily routines in China, but they never fail to amaze my friends back home,' Lazzari said. 'China's technological development is astonishing. We're planning to film more content to show this side of the country to the world.' The story of Lazzari and Wu is more than a love story across continents. It's also a dialogue between two civilisations, but unfolding in real time – one video, one song, or one cup of tea at a time. More than romance From the banks of West Lake in Hangzhou to the balconies of Verona, a bond has been found in the tales of timeless romance. In March 2019, witnessed by the Chinese and Italian heads of state, Hangzhou and Verona signed a city-to-city friendship agreement. Artists perform Chinese Kung Fu in downtown Rome. – Xinhua photo In 2000, Verona was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List for its historical richness and well-preserved architecture. Hangzhou is home to three Unesco sites: the West Lake, the Grand Canal, and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Both cities have drawn on their long history and wealth of cultural heritage in cultural exchanges. In 2019, Hangzhou launched a Love Bus route to commemorate its connection with Verona, featuring stops at landmarks that highlight the city's culture of love. Besides storytelling, the two cities are also collaborating to explore ways to preserve cultural heritage in the modern world. By applying new technologies, they aim to better integrate natural landscapes with historical architecture, preserving the past while planning for a sustainable future. 'Both Verona and Hangzhou are committed to promoting sustainable development, an urgent task for both cities,' said Maria Moreni, president of the Italy-China Link Association. 'West Lake is magical,' Moreni said. 'It's at the heart of a vibrant city, with wonderful museums for tea and silk. Here, people can find themselves, build a life, and simply enjoy being alive.' Hangzhou, in The Travels of Marco Polo in the 13th century, was described as 'beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world'. 'Marco Polo's story is widely known in China, just as Chinese history and culture have long been admired in Italy,' said Salvatore Capasso, the director of the Institute for Studies on Mediterranean Economics at the Italian National Research Council. 'Despite the distance between us, our shared appreciation for history and culture could bind us closely together,' said Capasso. China and Italy, the two countries boasting the most worldwide heritage sites, are well aware of their roles as guardians of ancient civilisations. The exchanges between Hangzhou and Verona serve as an illustration of cooperation, in the spirit highlighted by the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations, marked on June 10. Lazzari and Wu's romance is yet another thread woven into the intricate fabric of China-Italy relations. It evokes warmth in people's hearts and reminds them of the longer, greater bonds between the two countries. – Xinhua China love romance Rome Xinhua
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Arts Picks: SCO concert A Bug's Life, chamber music from 1812 to 1851, Nahre Sol piano recital
Singaporean maestro Darrell Ang collaborates with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra for a concert themed on insects. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA A Bug's Life The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will present A Bug's Life, a nature-inspired concert conducted by internationally acclaimed Singaporean maestro Darrell Ang. A h ighlight of the concert is the world premiere of Ang's original composition, A Bug's Life – Paraphrase On A Theme by Alexander Scriabin, giving audiences a fresh and imaginative music experience. The show will also feature a new interpretation of Butterfly Lovers by South Korean Cho Hang-oh, principal cellist of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. This marks the first time the SCO is performing the cello version of the beloved Chinese classic, composed by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, and the first time in more than five years that the orchestra is revisiting the piec e. Audiences can also look forward to The Insect World by Doming Lam, who is revered as the father of Hong Kong modern music. The piece will be presented for the first time and captures the vibrant, intricate life of insects. A Bug's Life is the second instalment of the SCO's nature-themed concert series helmed by Ang, following Songs Of Ancient Birds, which premiered in April . Speaking about the intention behind the concert series, Ang, who also serves as the SCO's principal guest conductor, said: 'In order for us to continue living our lives, we need to realise that caring for nature and letting it thrive is key to humanity's future happiness. I hope my nature series with the SCO will inspire listeners to think more about their relationship with nature.' Where: SCO Concert Hall, 7 Shenton Way MRT: Shenton Way/Tanjong Pagar When: May 10, 7.30pm Admission: $20 to $80 from Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Info: An 1825 Hopscotch concert Chamber Music and Arts Singapore (CMAS) presents An 1825 Hopscotch, exploring the rich musical evolution from the Classical to Romantic eras. The programme features three violin and piano sonatas composed between 1812 and 1851, and will be performed by internationally acclaimed Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson and Singaporean concert violinist and founder of CMAS Tang Tee Khoon. The concert offers a window into the artistic shifts that defined a golden era of chamber music and will take listeners on a sonic journey through the lyricism of Felix Mendelssohn, the dramatic flair of Robert Schumann and the clarity of Ludwig van Beethoven. It reflects on how each composer left a distinct imprint on the genre, transforming chamber music into a more personal and poetic form of expression. The event is part of CMAS' lead-up to its fifth anniversary celebrations, which will culminate in November with a major concert series titled 1825. The year-long programme aims to deepen Singaporean audiences' connection to classical chamber music, as CMAS continues its multi-year journey through key works from 1812 to 1828, including those by Beethoven and Franz Schubert. Where: Esplanade Recital Studio, Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive MRT: City Hall/Esplanade When: May 10, 8pm Admission: $42 to $102 Info: Nahre Sol piano recital Nahre Sol, an American pianist and compose r known for pushing the boundaries of piano music, will bring her distinct blend of classical innovation to the stage in an upcoming recital. Sol, who has close to 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, will perform pieces popular on her channel, such as Autumn Leaves Variations, along with her inventive postludes on famous classical melodies. A classically trained pianist with degrees from The Juilliard School and The Glenn Gould School, Sol's eclectic style fuses improvisation, avant-garde elements, Western classical forms, jazz and minimalism. She has performed at prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Centre in Washington in the United States, and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. Beyond the concert hall, Sol has built a global following through her YouTube channel, where she breaks down the styles of classical composers, explores music theory and produces original documentaries. Her creative reach extends to video game music, film soundtracks and collaborations with major artistes, including contributing to The Boss Baby 2 (2021) alongside German composer Hans Zimm er. Where: Victoria Concert Hall, 11 Empress Place MRT: Raffles Place When: May 6, 7.30pm Admission: $68 to $168 from Sistic Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
