During Lisette Oropesa’s performance, opera student Liu Jianwei noticed there was no male singer to perform the tenor part in “Sempre libera.”
The 24-year-old student took it upon himself to sing the solo from his seat, impressing Oropesa and quickly going viral.
Oropesa, a Cuban-American soprano, was performing her fourth encore when the tenor’s opening line was left unsung.
Liu filled the gap, singing the part beautifully from the second line. This impromptu duet at Teatro Regio di Parma in Italy has since gained 2.6 million views.
Surprised but pleased, Oropesa encouraged Liu to continue, thanking him warmly with “oh grazie!” and placing her hands over her heart as he sang.
Liu, who studies at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Nicolini di Piacenza, later apologized to Oropesa, worried he might have been rude. However, she was delighted to meet him, taking a photo and signing an autograph for the young singer.
Here is the video:
