This weekend, the Shanghai Opera House will bring contemporary Chinese opera 'The Wager' to a London stage. The UK premiere marks the opera's return to Europe 14 years after its international debut in Geneva. 

A Chinese story told in Western format, a fable of luck, temptation and fate, 'The Wager' is a memorable work of original and innovative modern Chinese opera. The composer has created elaborate music and lyrics, which he says were inspired by the musical nature of Chinese language. 

Students joined the orchestra in London, and it took a week of rehearsals to master the score. Both the conductor and players thought it was an incredible experience as the students used instruments and a language they had no experience with. 

The stage sets were produced in the UK. Director Chen Xinyi found the London co-production a pleasant and learning experience. 

As CGTN’s reporter Wang Wan said, 'The Wager' brings Chinese artistic tradition and modern Chinese opera to London. Combining the city's Guildhall School orchestra with singers from Shanghai Opera House helped compose a co-production of Chinese and British cultural exchange.