116 – Ben Goes to China

April 30, 2016 | By Erik Core | Add a Comment

Ben Bongers (an opera tenor featured in Opera Stories: Ben Bongers – MLR 051) returns to Music Life Radio and speaks with Erik Core about his adventures while performing in China. The winner of Chinese Idol (yes, the Chinese version of American Idol) had heard Ben singing in San Francisco and wanted him to come to China to share the stage with her. The performance was held in the Bird’s Nest, which is a former Olympic venue, and was broadcast to over 1 billion people! Ben talks about his experience, which included meeting the president of China, Xi Jinping, in a German beerhall.

Ben Bongers and Friends in China

Arrival in China at 5PM in the Afternoon. Hello Smog!

Ben Bongers Master Class Banner

German Beer Hall Sign

For more pictures of his china trip, view Ben Bonger’s Facebook timeline circa Nov 2013.

Credits: “MLR Intro” by “Rob McCann”, “Nessun Dorma from Giacomo Puccini‘s opera Turandot” performed by “Ben Bongers”, “La Donna e Mobile from Giuseppe Verdi‘s opera Rigoletto” performed by “Ben Bongers“ both recorded live at Music Life Radio Studios.

Tags: ben bongers, china, opera

Category: Actors, Musicians, Podcast

About the Producer (Author Profile)

Erik Core – Producer. Best known as the “Mariachi from Hell”, “Bob Dylan on PCP” or quite simply the Grand Master of acoustic punk/thrash/hardcore is currently the lead singer and rhythm acoustic guitarist in Gunpowder. His past projects include Gods of the Revolution, Attack of the Zombie Pimps, and the Violators.