Soprano recital: Soprano Wu Bixia will stage her performance, "The Nightingale's Songs of the East and the West," at City Hall on July 31.

Soprano Wu Bixia, who has won Mainland and International awards in vocal competitions, will stage a recital on July 31 at Hong Kong City Hall. 

Presented by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, the "The Nightingale's Songs of the East and the West" will feature such songs as "Rippling Brook" (Yunnan folksong), "Washing Cabbages" (Hunnan flower-drum ditty), "Bao Leng Diao" (Shandong folksong), Scarlatti's "Le Violette"i, "Caro Nome" from Verdi's "Rigoletto" and "Una Voce Poco Fa" from Rossini's "Il Bariere di Siviglia".

Ms Wu won the first prize in the 1st China International Competition for Singers and the 8th International Vocal Competition held in Bilbao, Spain in 2000, and the second prize in the vocal section of the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition held in 2002. 

She has given many recitals in China and abroad, and oftern performed and participated in music exchange activities in the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe, and Southeast Asia. She has released six solo albums since 2000 and the People's Music Publishing House published her thesis on the performance of Chinese and foreign vocal works.

Pianist Zhang Jialin will accompany her during the coming Hong Kong performance. He has often served as an accompanist in domestic and international vocal competitions and received "The Best Young Piano Accompanist Award" at the 2nd China International Competition for Singers in November 2002.

Tickets priced at $150, $120 and $90 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.