The Golden Hall of Vienna played host to Liao Changyong Vocal Solo Concert, the first by a Chinese baritone, on Friday evening, giving a chance for Westerners to sip the flavor of Eastern music and culture.

At the concert, Liao sang well-known European opera selections like "The Marriage of Figaro," "The Merry Widow," "Don Carlos," and some Chinese songs like "My Motherland" and "Velvet Flowers" with the accompaniment of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

His performance moved the audience and received long and warm applause.

Liao, who comes from China's southwestern Sichuan province, struck by a devastating quake in May that killed over 80,000, specially sang "The Old Song" to thank "the Austrian friends who helped victims in the quake."

Liao has won many top international awards for his outstanding artistic skills. He now is vice president of the Chinese Musicians Association and dean of the Vocal Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2008)