_{OPERA PLACES} Julia Dawson takes us to China

City where you’re working?
I’m traveling between Jiaxing, Zhuhai, Yanguan Chaole Ancient Town, Xuzhou and Kunming as part of a recital tour.

How long are you working on contract?
The tour runs over two weeks, with three back-to-back concerts each weekend. In between, pianist Justine Eckhaut and I are giving a presentation and an outdoor pop-up performance in a beautiful traditional water town – one of the highlights of the trip.

What’s the opera house like?
These concerts are in concert halls rather than opera houses. So far, the Zhuhai Opera House has been a big highlight: its shell design is inspired by the painting The Birth of Venus and it sits on an island. I found some some more background here:
“Zhuhai Grand Theater, located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, is the only opera house in China built on an island. The Zhuhai Grand Theater consists of two large and two small ‘shells’, known as the ‘Sun and Moon Shells’, with a maximum height of 90 meters. The design is inspired by the famous painting The Birth of Venus, in which Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, was born from a shell. The Sun and Moon Shell is a unique local marine species. The design illustrates the spiritual qualities of Zhuhai, the first city in mainland China to embrace the maritime civilization.”

Most peaceful place in the city?
So far it has been the quiet streets of this Yanguan Chaole Ancient Town. :-). There are no cars here so it’s really peaceful and quiet, especially this time of year.

Best coffee or tea?
I’ve been enjoying some jasmine tea but the main event is apparently coming next weekend when we will visit Kunming in the Yunnan region which is very famous for tea, among others, Pu’Er. Meanwhile, I have to say I’ve also had great coffee… The chain M Stand has been a life-saver!

Coolest bar or restaurant you’ve been to?
So far, the hotel breakfast in Yanguan Chaole Ancient Town was my favourite – excellent americanos and congee. I had the white fungus porridge with all the fixins :-).

An activity unique to the area?
Well, Justine and I are using our day off today to visit the South Bund Fabric Market in Shanghai. We are hoping to get some concert clothes made! Wish us luck 🙂

Something unexpected that happens locally?
One thing that has been a big pleasure is experiencing the warmth of the audiences. Each night as soon as we begin our encore, the Chinese song “Mo li hua” (Jasmine Flower) they begin to applaud. In Zhuhai, the audience also started singing along. It was a very special moment.

How did you find accommodation?
As this is a presenter-organized recital tour, accommodation was arranged for me – a huge gift when traveling so much!

Most important thing when finding accommodation as a singer?
I generally look for proximity to the venue and to grocery stores, as well as a kitchen, or at least as much of one as possible. I love cooking and find it super grounding, so this is important.

Have you explored some galleries or museums?
We haven’t had time yet, but let’s see what we can up to today in Shanghai.

Anything else you’d recommend?
I’d recommend getting an eSIM (I got mine from Trip.com … not sponsored, hehe). Day-to-day life here runs almost entirely through AliPay or WeChat, so having reliable data (and a full phone battery!) is essential. Bring a portable charger as well: you’ll use your phone constantly for payments, navigation and translation.
I’ve also experienced so much warmth and generosity from strangers. I’ve been spontaneously treated to meals and drinks, and people have gone out of their way to help, even when we didn’t share a language. Don’t be afraid to connect with people; you really do find a way to communicate.