Conducted by Tang Muhai and directed by Yi Liming, the vintage Tianjin version of the opera The Lady of the Camellias was performed in the Tianjin Grand Theatre on Dec 8 and 9. Residents enjoyed a Chinese style Verdi classical opera – La Traviata – which was based on a Tianjin story.

As one of the most popular works in the history of opera, The Lady of the Camellias was the first western opera to have been performed in China.

Yi reorganized the opera, which relocated the story from Paris to Tianjin in the Minguo era.

The Ranch has been changed to a teahouse, the European style houses have been changed to Chinese style yards, the casinos have been changed to Chinese theatres, Gypsy girls have been changed to ladies playing pipa, the pasadoble has been changed to lion dancing, the goblets have been changed to tea cups, and Marguerite Gautier has been changed to a popular female singer –Wei Lanli.

But will audiences accept such adventurous changes? Peng Wenni, the producer of the opera said that the Chinese style and Minguo era background will give audiences a fresh feeling. Any innovative trial can expect to receive positive or negative appraisals. But these should not scare away people who want to give it a try.

"At first, we worried about the gap between the visual and auto experience of the performance, because the costumes are in Chinese style, but the performance is in Italian. But after days of rehearsal, we found that it is not weird at all," added Peng.

In the opera, Ji Leide, the successor of a reputable family fell in love with Wei Lanli. In order to marry Ji, Wei gave up her singing career. But Ji's father did not agree with the marriage and pulled them apart. At last, Wei left her beloved Ji and passed away in sorrow.

Although the story takes place in Tianjin, in order to guarantee the standard of the performance, two casting groups have been formed. A Russian soprano and an Italian tenor performed on Dec 8, while the performance on Dec 9 was led by Yu Pingli, Wang Zenan, and Wang Lai from the Tianjin Opera Theatre.