Italy, known as the birthplace of opera and home to renowned performers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, and Cecilia Bartoli, traditionally reserves the art of operatic singing for large stages, and it rarely features in tourist itineraries. However, for 25-year-old Zou Yanzhe, public spaces have become his own stage.
In an interview with CGTN, he stated that his goal is to take opera out of the theater and make it accessible to the general public. This talented young singer from Jiangxi province in southeastern China, who currently lives in Milan, brings this art form to open areas, including squares, streets, and tourist attractions where anyone can listen.
Alongside excerpts from Italian and French opera, he performs beautiful Chinese melodies, striving to introduce the local audience to music they might otherwise never hear. Thus, a casual walk down the street can turn into an unexpected encounter with Chinese music.
His journey began long before street performances and online attention. Having developed an interest in singing in childhood, he began professional training during his teenage years and received systematic vocal coaching in China. He noted that he fell in love with the art form while studying opera.
During a trip to Italy, the cradle of opera, he refined his vocal skills. He then began experimenting with improvisation on the street, which became a very important stage in his creative development. Although he is still mostly a student, he organizes performances around his vocal lessons. The idea of performing outdoors arose after he observed Italian musicians performing in the streets.
He decided that he could bring Chinese vocal pieces to this open stage, which gave rise to the idea of spontaneous street concerts. Realizing this idea required courage and stepping out of his comfort zone. Initially, he felt nervousness and shyness, but he constantly reminded himself that he was there to share music. As soon as he started singing and focused on the music, the anxiety gradually faded, as the desire to share what he loved became more important than worrying about being watched.
The public reaction was warm: passersby watched with admiration, recorded videos, and applauded. When he performs Chinese pieces, locals show curiosity, and many approach to thank him for such beautiful music. Questions often follow about Chinese music, traditions, and daily life, and some listeners say they hope to visit China and experience the culture firsthand.
These street encounters are now extending far beyond Italy. His videos have garnered millions of views on social media. He initially started filming just to document his performances, but this brought new opportunities, including invitations to local cultural events and collaborations with musicians blending Western opera and Chinese music. Nevertheless, Zou views his performances and videos merely as a small window into Chinese culture, not as proof of any grand achievement.
Living alone in Italy while his family remains in China, he has faced difficulties related to language and cultural differences. He is now able to hold basic daily conversations in Italian and sings in Italian, French, and Chinese. He emphasizes the support of his family, who are proud of his online success and hope he will continue to spread Chinese art abroad, while reminding him to take care of himself. Zou plans to take his street performances to more European cities and beyond. For now, he is focused on improving his voice, and whether someone is listening in a public square or watching on their phone, his hope remains unchanged—to be a bridge between Chinese and Western art. His long-term goal is to allow a greater number of listeners worldwide to hear and appreciate the beauty of Chinese vocal music.
