Italy is known as the birthplace of opera. Home to some of opera’s greatest stars, including Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli and Cecilia Bartoli, to name a few, the gift of opera singing is mostly preserved for grand stages and is usually not part of a sightseeing itinerary. However, for 25-year-old Zou Yanjie, public spaces have become his very own stage.

"First of all, I want to get opera out of the theater and to get to the general public," he told CGTN in an interview.

A talented young singer from southeast China's Jiangxi Province, now based in Milan, Zou is taking the art form into open spaces, including tourist attractions, squares and streets, where anyone can listen. Alongside Italian and French opera excerpts, he sings beautiful Chinese melodies, hoping to introduce local audiences to music they might never otherwise hear.

Suddenly, a stroll down a street can become an unexpected and cheeky introduction to Chinese music.

His journey began long before the street performances and online attention. Drawn to singing as a child, he started professional training in his teens and received systematic vocal training in China.

"As I learned more about opera, I fell in love with the art," he said.

"I traveled to Italy, the birthplace of opera, to refine my singing skills. Then I started trying to improvise on the street, which became a very special experience in my artistic path."

He is still primarily a student and fits performances around his vocal studies. The idea of performing outdoors came from watching Italian musicians perform in the streets.

"I thought to myself that I could also bring Chinese vocal works to this open-air stage, which led to the idea of impromptu street performances."

Doing it took some courage and required him to step outside of his comfort zone.

"I did get nervous and shy at first," he said. "But I keep reminding myself that I'm here to share the music."

Once he began singing and concentrated on the music, the nerves gradually eased. Sharing something he loved became more important than worrying about being watched.

The response has been warm, with passersby watching in awe, recording videos and applauding.

"When I perform Chinese works, locals are filled with curiosity; many approach me to thank me for bringing such beautiful music," he said.

Questions about Chinese music, traditions and everyday life often follow. Some listeners tell him they hope to visit China and experience the culture for themselves.

Those street encounters now reach far beyond Italy. His videos have attracted millions of views across social media.

"I couldn't have expected this much attention," he said.

He began recording simply to document his performances. The attention has also brought opportunities, including invitations to local cultural events and collaborations with musicians blending Western opera and Chinese music.

Still, Zou sees his performances and videos as a small window into Chinese culture rather than proof of some sweeping achievement.

"I believe every little display has value," he said.

Living alone in Italy, with his family back in China, has brought challenges too. Language and cultural differences took time to navigate. He now manages basic everyday conversations in Italian and sings in Italian and French as well as Chinese.

"My family is very supportive," he said. "Seeing the videos online, they feel proud of me and hope I will persist in my dreams, spreading Chinese art abroad. At the same time, they often remind me to look after myself here."

Zou hopes to take his street performances to more European cities and eventually beyond. For now, he wants to keep improving his voice, and whether someone listens in a public square or watches on a phone, his hope is the same, to be a bridge between Chinese and Western art. 

"My long-term aspiration is to enable more listeners around the world to hear and appreciate the beauty of Chinese vocal music," he said.