娱乐英语新闻:Grammy-nominated mainland soprano to sing with Taiwan pop star at Bird's Nest

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese folk singer Song Zuying, whose work was nominated for the Best Classical Crossover Album of the 49th Grammy Awards, is now ready to cross over again with Taiwan pop star Jay Chou at the Beijing National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, in June.

    Their performance will be part of the first "Bird's Nest Summer Concert" in Beijing, which is due to kick off on June 30 in the centerpiece of the 2008 Olympic Games.

    "The crossover between classical, pop and Chinese folk music will be the essential feature for this concert," said Xu Peidong, vice president of the Chinese Musicians Association here Saturday.

Chinese singer Song Zuying (L) and Taiwan pop singer Jay Chou leave their handprint during a press conference of Song's concert in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2009

Song Zuying, who has held solo concerts at Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, in the United States, said she would do more exercises to prepare for the upcoming performance and practice her vocal skills.

    Jay Chou believed the concert would be "more amazing" than his previous solo ones.

    According to the association, the two singers will perform each other's hit works but the names of the songs were not revealed.

    It will be the second cooperation between Song and Chou. In this year's annual Spring Festival gala held by the China Central Television, Song was featured in Chou's performance with the segment from her hit song "La Mei Zi (Spice Girls)".

    In addition, Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, who performed a duet with Song at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, and Chinese piano talent Lang Lang will also join the event.

    "Chinese artists should do more such things to make our culture known to the world," Lang Lang said in a video greeting.

    Previous reports said Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan was also scheduled to hold a concert, named "Descendants of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and Friends", in the Bird's Nest during the country's May Day holiday.

    Chan's concert will be the first major commercial event in the Beijing National Stadium after the Beijing Olympics last year.