But thanks to his unwavering optimism, he soon adjusted to the new environment and demonstrated his singing skills. "I realized that the only thing that helped me prove my ability is my voice," he says.

In 2002, he performed the lead role in opera La Traviata, which enabled him to become the chief tenor at the Sydney Opera House and led to other opportunities to perform the lead in masterpieces such as Tosca, Rigoletto and Faust.

His longtime idols, Australian soprano Joan Sutherland and her conductor husband, Richard Bonynge, praised Ding's performance after watching him perform Norma in 2004 at the Sydney Opera House, which was an exciting moment for Ding.

"They were the teachers of Luciano Pavarotti and they were one of the main reasons why I came to the Sydney Opera House. Therefore their praise meant so much to me," he says.

However, at the height of his career in Australia, Ding decided to return to China.

He will perform a concert with New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra, a 26-year-old crossover singer, whose versatile range includes folk, pop and classical music, on April 29 in Beijing. Titled Wonderful Harmony, the concert will be accompanied by the orchestra of the National Ballet of China under the baton of Irish conductor Derek Gleeson.

The two singers first met at 2012's Beijing International Film Festival by singing You and Me, the 2008 Beijing Olympic theme song.

They will perform classical music and Chinese folk songs at the upcoming concert. Ding will also interpret Chrysanthemums Terrace, which was originally performed by Taiwan singer-songwriter Jay Chou.

"I returned to China hoping to bring my knowledge and experience about opera to Chinese audiences," says Ding. "Opera has a distance from ordinary audiences. That's why I will perform the pop song Chrysanthemums Terrace. I hope it will bring the audience closer to opera singing."

Shanghai music lovers to savor two of world's great tenors	Ear to the ground