For Shu-Cheen, it's been a life at the opera

Chinese-born soprano Shu-Cheen Yu has a simple philosophy: 'I treat every opportunity as an honour.'

By InvestSMART · 9 May 2012

By InvestSMART ·
9 May 2012

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Chinese-born soprano Shu-Cheen Yu has a simple philosophy: 'I treat every opportunity as an honour.'

THE Chinese-born soprano Shu-Cheen Yu has a simple philosophy: ''I treat every opportunity as an honour.'' This has held her life and career in good stead.

And what a life the girl from Shanxi province has had. It could be called a double existence, involving such different disciplines as Chinese and Western cultures, including opera, song, acrobatics and juggling, juxtaposed with property development. It could make an opera in itself.

This year is the 25th anniversary of Shu-Cheen's arrival in Australia. Next week, she marks the occasion with a gala concert. On the program will be Chinese art and folk songs, but also Handel, Mozart and J. S. Bach. And, no doubt, her party piece, a Sino-Austro rendition of Danny Boy. ''It's so warm and sweet,'' she says, singing the refrain down the line in pure tones. ''Although I learnt the English pronunciation of the words, I found my Chinese-opera training adds so much flavour and depth.'' Shu-Cheen compares her duality of cultures to painting. ''Some people might learn to paint a Chinese watercolour, but then learn how to enhance this by Western oil painting. I have discovered how the voice, shade and power of operatic sound enable me to express more in Chinese music.'' Shu-Cheen is from a musical family, with an opera-singer mother and conductor father. At 13, she left home to learn Chinese opera at a boarding school. ''It was like Farewell, My Concubine: one grew up very quickly,'' she says.

''It was concentrated training, with 250 poems and musical pieces to learn each semester, as well as dancing, acrobatics and gymnastics.'' By the time she came to Australia, Shu-Cheen was an accomplished singer. In Sydney, though, she effectively started again, at a three-year opera course at the conservatorium. From 1995 to 2002 she sang with Opera Australia. ''I realised my humble, gracious salary was not enough to give me a comfortable retirement and I had to do something.'' So, during rehearsals, she read the Financial Review and property guides. Now the investment consultancy she began with her husband is successful enough for her to spend three-quarters of her time teaching or singing.

''Fortunately, I can practise my scales late: my good neighbours never complain.''

Lotus Moon: Shu-Cheen Yu, Melbourne Recital Centre, Monday 7.30pm.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Shu-Cheen Yu and why is she in the news?

Shu-Cheen Yu is a Chinese-born soprano who this year marks the 25th anniversary of her arrival in Australia. A classically trained Chinese-opera singer from a musical family, she blends Chinese and Western repertoire and is marking the milestone with a gala concert.

What can audience members expect at Shu-Cheen Yu's gala concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre?

The gala program features a mix of Chinese art and folk songs alongside Western classics by Handel, Mozart and J.S. Bach, plus Shu-Cheen's signature Sino‑Austro rendition of 'Danny Boy.' The event is listed as 'Lotus Moon: Shu‑Cheen Yu' at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Monday 7.30pm.

How did Shu-Cheen Yu's Chinese opera training shape her singing style and repertoire?

Her intensive Chinese-opera training — which included learning hundreds of poems and musical pieces each semester plus dance, acrobatics and gymnastics — gave her strong vocal technique and theatricality. She says that Chinese training adds flavour and depth to Western songs and that combining Chinese and Western approaches enhances expression, like adding oil paint to a watercolour.

What was Shu-Cheen Yu's professional opera career in Australia?

After completing a three-year opera course at the conservatorium in Sydney, Shu-Cheen sang professionally with Opera Australia from 1995 to 2002 before expanding into other musical and non-musical pursuits.

Why did Shu-Cheen Yu move into investment and property work alongside her music career?

Shu-Cheen realised her modest performing salary would not secure a comfortable retirement, so during rehearsals she read the Financial Review and property guides. She and her husband then started an investment consultancy, and the business became successful enough to support her continued teaching and performing.

Is Shu-Cheen Yu involved in property development as part of her investment activities?

The article describes Shu-Cheen's life as a 'double existence' that juxtaposes opera and song with property development, and it notes she and her husband run an investment consultancy. That indicates involvement in property and investment activities alongside her musical career.

How does Shu-Cheen balance her time between singing, teaching and managing investments?

Her investment consultancy has become successful enough that she now spends about three-quarters of her time teaching or singing, while the business provides financial security. She still finds time to practise late at night — joking that her good neighbours never complain.

What practical investing lesson does Shu-Cheen Yu's story offer everyday investors?

Shu-Cheen's experience highlights the value of planning for retirement, educating yourself about finance (she read financial newspapers and property guides) and creating additional income streams. In her case, building an investment consultancy alongside her performing career helped provide greater financial stability.