First Lady of China, Peng Liyuan, Visits Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera

Katherine Farley, Chair of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Judith-Ann Corrente, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Opera, along with Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein and Metropolitan Opera General Manager Peter Gelb, today welcomed The First Lady of China, Madame Peng Liyuan, at an intimate reception in the Metropolitan Opera house attended by officials and guests of Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Consulate of the People's Republic of China.

Ten years ago, Madame Peng Liyuan, one of China's most celebrated sopranos, performed the lead role in Mulan Psalm at Alice Tully Hall.

Said Judith-Ann Corrente, "In addition to being a gifted and celebrated singer in her own right, I know that Madame Peng is passionate about the role of music and the arts in fostering important conversation across cultures - something that is of essential importance to the Metropolitan Opera as well."

Said Katherine Farley,"Madame Peng's return to Lincoln Center as First Lady, a decade after she performed here as an artist, is testament to her enduring conviction that the performing arts and cultural exchange are vital bridges between peoples."

Said Madame Peng Liyuan, "I wish to see Lincoln Center becoming an even more successful platform for China-US arts and cultural exchanges and in promoting the cultures of our world. And, I hope that this center will continue to promote exchanges between arts from different nations and races... And, I hope that our friendship will be an everlasting one"

Following an exchange of personal mementos, Madame Peng Liyuan was greeted by several old friends from her 2005 MulanPsalm production, as well as officials from Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center resident companies, and other leading New York cultural institutions. Ms. Farley and Ms. Corrente then escorted Madame Peng Liyuan to a rehearsal of Richard Wagner's Tannhauser before she departed the Opera House with warm expressions of gratitude and promises to return soon.

Pictured: Metropolitan Opera General Manager, Peter Gelb; Judith-Ann Corrrente, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Opera; Madame Peng Liyuan, The First Lady of China, Katherine Farley; Chair of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; and Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein, at a reception at the Metropolitan Opera House attended by officials and guests of Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Consulate of the People's Republic of China. Photo by Stephanie Berger.