The Chinese adaptation of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro — translated by Zhang Chengmo, with vocal arrangements by Jiang Ying and revisions by Wu Lingfen and Zheng Xiaoying — made history in 1983 as the first Chinese production of a Mozart opera. Premiered by the inaugural graduating class of the Opera Department at the Central Conservatory of Music, this groundbreaking performance marked the introduction of Mozart’s operatic genius to Chinese audiences.

On May 15, 2024, 41 years later, the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Center reunited the original cast members for a nostalgic reprise of this iconic production, reigniting the legacy of cross-cultural operatic innovation. This revival not only honored the pioneers of Chinese opera but also celebrated the timeless resonance of Mozart’s masterpiece through the lens of Sinicized artistry.