Chinese educator receives honorary degree by Italian university

ROME, Nov.4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese musical manager and educator has received a honorary degree in the University of Turin for his education activities in China regarding the opera, particularly the Italian opera.

The honorary degree, Doctor of Languages and Civilizations of Asia and Africa, was given on Thursday by the University of Turin to Chen Ping, President of China's National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA).

According to the organizers, Chen contributed to developing collaborative and exchange relations with the most important lyric theaters in the world and with leading Italian and international artists.

"This honor really represents the symbol of new friendly relations between Italy and China. I experienced a very important and unforgettable moment of my life here," Chen told Xinhua on Friday.

Born in 1954, Chen holds a MBA degree in China. He became the first President of the National Center for the Performing Arts, since its opening in December 2007.

During the degree-awarding ceremony in the University of Turin, Chen showed a clip of a special version of Turandot, the well-known Italian opera, which attracted many university students and professors.

The video shown on the occasion was part of the Turandot composed by the NCPA, which features a conclusion written by a Chinese composer.

Stefania Stafutti, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing and professor of the University of Turin, said Chen has been an important figure in the dialogue between the Chinese and Italian cultures.

According to Stafutti,the NCPA president combines the best expressions of the performing arts with the best of the local tradition.

"With an activity whose importance is recognized and highly appreciated by operators in the sector at international level, Chen has inspired his work to some key lines of action, addressed to the artistic value, the internationalization and the attention to public and civil society, with the conviction that 'art transforms quality of life'," said Stafutti.

"Under the leadership of Chen, NCPA's strategy is based on three points: excellences universally recognized, globalization of the activities of the theater, and promotion of talents," she said.

Since the opening of the NCPA in 2007, Chen has helped promote Italian music, hosting more than 20 companies including the Royal Theater in Parma, the Theater La Fenice in Venice, the Symphony Orchestra of Santa Cecilia, the Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ballet of Rome.

He collaborated with artists including Claudio Abbado, Maurizio Pollini, Leo Nucci, Giancarlo Del Monaco, all of them renowned conductors.

Over the past seven years, NCPA has established partnership relations with the Royal Theater in Turin, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Royal Theater of Parma and the Theater La Fenice in Venice for the co-production of Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly and the other world-famous operas.

NCPA also has a long-standing collaborative relationship with 15 Italian cultural organizations, such as Puccini Foundation, Theater San Carlo in Naples, and Rome Auditorium.

In September 2015, the opera "The Rickshaw Boy", the original creation of the NCPA was presented in six Italian cities, during which the first international show was at the Royal Theater in Turin.