Taiwanese artist Xiao Xian pursues vocal studies in Europe, attends opera in Verona

Taiwanese artist "Xiao Xian" is embracing her student identity by undertaking a "European study trip" during her university breaks. Over the past two years, she has used her winter and summer holidays to travel in Europe, with this year's focus being an intensive summer course in vocal music and attending world-class opera performances.

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The entire performance combined laser lighting, art installations, and a large sloped stage, with each act being stunning. Beyond appreciating the spectacular stage design, I focused on the singers' voices. In such a large open-air theater, without microphones, they could project their voices to every corner. It truly made me deeply admire them and reminded myself how much I still need to work and learn.

Before the new academic semester began, Xiao Xian visited Verona, Italy. While researching the city, she discovered the ancient Roman amphitheater, built in 30 AD, which hosts an open-air opera festival every summer. Fortuitously, she secured a ticket to a performance of Verdi's "Aida," described as a popular crystal production in recent years.

"The entire performance combined laser lighting, art installations, and a large sloped stage, with each act being stunning," Xiao Xian shared. "Beyond appreciating the spectacular stage design, I focused on the singers' voices. In such a large open-air theater, without microphones, they could project their voices to every corner. It truly made me deeply admire them and reminded myself how much I still need to work and learn."

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Honestly, when I saw others filming with their phones, my internal alarm bells went off. Isn't it not allowed? Why is everyone filming?

During the opera, Xiao Xian observed many audience members using their phones to record the performance, despite broadcast reminders against it. Seeing this, she questioned the widespread practice, as she herself did not record any of the performance content. "Honestly, when I saw others filming with their phones, my internal alarm bells went off. Isn't it not allowed? Why is everyone filming?" she wondered.

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I want to respect the intellectual property rights of the organizers and all creators.

Xiao Xian explained her decision to refrain from recording, stating, "I want to respect the intellectual property rights of the organizers and all creators." She mentioned that she only recorded her emotions during the curtain call. "I feel that when traveling alone, any unpleasantness during the journey is normal. From another perspective, perhaps it is precisely because people share that more individuals who didn't know opera before begin to become interested. Good works need to be seen and supported by the audience to continue performing," she reflected, choosing to follow the rules even if it meant having less material to share, preferring to document her journey in her own way.

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I feel that when traveling alone, any unpleasantness during the journey is normal. From another perspective, perhaps it is precisely because people share that more individuals who didn't know opera before begin to become interested. Good works need to be seen and supported by the audience to continue performing.