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The Chinese-born soprano, Dan Shen, graduated in 1984 in opera singing at the Shanghai University Conservatory. In 1991, having moved to Italy at the invitation of Gino Bechi with whom she perfected herself, she enrolled at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan thanks to the award of a scholarship from the Italian Government. At the same conservatory she graduated in Singing with Professor Margaret Hayward and in Vocal Chamber Music (Diploma Vecchio ordinamento and Diploma Accademico di II livello – indirizzo Barocco) with full marks in the class of Professor S .Doz. In August 1997 she obtained the 3rd Prize at the 24th edition of the "Palma d' Oro" International Chamber Music Competition in Finale Ligure and in July 1998 she obtained the 4th Prize at the "Bellini International Vocal Competition" in Ragusa -Ibla. In 1999 she obtained the 1st absolute prize at the "Angelica Catalani" international competition in Corinaldo in the lieder section.
Dan Shen was invited by the “Ibla International Music Foundation” to hold, in April 1999, some concerts at the following American institutions: “Weill Recital Hall” (Carnegie Hall); Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo (New York University); University of Arkansas (Little Rock). In May 1999 she participated in the “Day for the 100th anniversary” of the birth of Francis Poulenc organized by the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan in collaboration with the Center Culturel Français de Milan. In November of the same year she performed W.A. Mozart's Requiem with Orchestra Mozart of Milan at the Cattedrale di Vigevano and at the Chiesa di S. Maria del Carmine in Milan.
On January 1, 2000, Dan Shen sang at the Teatro delle Erbe in Milan, again in collaboration with the Orchestra Mozart of Milan, the Concert Aria K 416 by W.A. Mozart under the direction of Giampaolo Bisanti. For the 2000 Easter Festival of the Accademia S. Cecilia in Rome you participated in the execution of the oratorio “S. Elena al Calvario” by Leonardo Leo with the ensemble Europa Galante directed by Fabio Biondi. From 1999 to 2000 she worked as Soprano in the Chorus of the Orchestra Giuseppe Verdi di Milano and was chosen by Maestro Riccardo Chailly for the solo part of Verdi's Te Deum.
In 2006, by the Associazione Opera Rinata, Dan Shen was engaged for the role of Zerlina in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni. For her, Agorà recorded, in world premiere, Il Parnassus Confuso (part of Apollo) by C.W. Gluck (“…Dan Shen, the Apollo, is clean and light, placing the music with some delicacy and showing a neat staccato…” Stanley Sadie - Director of the New Grove - Gramophone, February 2002) and, for Tactus, Salve Regina by Leo and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. She participated in Francesco Leprino's film Un gioco ardito, twelve thematic variations on Domenico Scarlatti. Her repertoire ranges from the Baroque to the contemporary period.
For years Dan Shen has specialized in working on applied vocal technique with actors and singers. She has provided vocals for some of Zelig's comedians and as vocal assistant, she worked with director Peter Stein on the production of Euripides' Medea for the Festival del Teatro Greco di Siracusa. Her students have been admitted to the courses of the new system of Italian conservatories of both Singing and Vocal Chamber Music, three-year and two-year courses, often resulting first in the rankings and are also winners of national and international competitions. Some of them, having returned to China, then found work as teachers in universities and conservatories and also in the National Theater and in professional choirs. As a teacher of vocal practice, she hase collaborated with the Scuola Superiore di Direzione di Coro della Fondazione “Guido d ’Arezzo” and with the Adult Courses of the Canton of Ticino. She is often invited to give master-classes and seminars in Chinese universities and conservatories and is an honorary professor of the music faculty of the Beijing Language University and the Wei Hai conservatory (China).
In addition to her main activity as a lyric soprano and singing teacher to singers and actors, Dan Shen also works as an Italian-Chinese interpreter and linguistic and cultural mediator. She has worked at the Mangiagalli Clinic, the Niguarda Hospital, the Court and Juvenile Court, the Immigration Office, the Family and Social Counselling Services of the Municipality of Milan and the Adult Education Courses at the Department of Education in Ticino, Switzerland. She has translated into Chinese for the publishing house Shang Hai Press the book by J. Paton 26 Italian Songs and Arias ed. Alfred USA.
Since 1988 Dan Shen has been a permanent duo with Luigi Marzola (Duo Calycanthus) and is president of the Associazione Arione. |
