Cologne Opera House's artistic director, Mr. Uwe Eric Laufenberg, visited both Shanghai and Beijing with a demanding schedule from the 16th to 19th of July.

Having been performing almost exclusively for a domestic audience, Cologne Opera House from Germany is bringing the magic to China this fall, featuring a couple of grandest works in the history of opera – "The Ring of the Nibelung" (Der Ring des Nibelungen) by Richard Wagner and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Before the entire crew makes their official theatrical entrance, Cologne Opera House's artistic director, Mr. Uwe Eric Laufenberg, visited both Shanghai and Beijing with a demanding schedule from the 16th to 19th of July. Press conf erences were held at the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the modern National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing.

Hailed as one of the finest theatres in Germany, Cologne Opera House is not only acknowledged for its ground-breaking architecture but also its courageous and innovative spirit when it comes to the performing arts. As the "most adventurous theatre of Germany," Cologne has handpicked its signature creation for Beijing opera lovers this fall.

Starting out the tour, Laufenberg held an "Opera 101" seminar at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, the NCPA and the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA). Born in Cologne, Laufenberg is not only an outstanding director but was also once a celebrated opera singer in Germany. His brilliance and insightfulness inspired and impressed the curious crowds. Fans of all occupations and ages raised countless questions one after another. Laufenberg's witty and humorous answers lightened up the whole room.

As the stage director of the modern "Don Giovanni," Laufenberg attended the press conference at the NCPA on July 19th. Special guests also included director of the NCPA Performance Department, Zhixiang Li, Minister Counselor of Cultural Affairs in the German Embassy, Martin Fleischer, and General Manager of Wu Promotion, Jiatong Wu, each of whom enlightened the reporters with behind-the-scenes stories from their unique perspectives.

The modern rendition of "Don Giovanni" by Mozart will be shown for three nights at the NCPA. Cologne's rendition of a modern playboy will be introduced as a "confession" of guilt, remorse, love, and death. How Laufenberg ingeniously incorporates this 200-year legendary Libertine into the high-tech world we live in today is probably the most captivating. Our leading man, Don Giovanni, keeps a database of his large collection of exotic lovers from all over Europe in an iPhone. Not only are their names attached to photos, he can easily track them down using Google Maps!

The character in the opera is an unapologetic, rule-breaking hedonist. Nevertheless, he is romantically erotic, bold and endlessly entertaining. His motto, "Viva la libertà!" was judged and abhorred by citizens of his age yet celebrated by today's narcissist generation. Living one's life to the fullest must be achieved through guiltless consumption and excessive celebration of the senses. Hence, Laufenberg's modern interpretation of the classic is of substantial practical significance. A sublime musical standard can be expected from the renowned conductor, Markus Stenz, and the internationally famed baritone, Christopher Maltman (Don Giovanni). This Cologne China tour is for sure going to be one magnificent cultural gala.

Mr. Laufenberg's interview in Culture Express,CCTV: