SOUND BITES: Zheng Cao.(Brief Article)

After tending to Cio-Cio-Sans in more than a half-dozen Madama Butterfly productions in the U.S. and Europe, Zheng Cao decided to"temporarily retire" Suzuki from her repertory a few years ago. "I loved singing her, but as an Asian-born singer, I was concerned about being permanently `typed.' I wanted more challenges, so I accepted offers from companies that saw beyond my face." Now, after three "Suzuki-free" years, during which she sang a gallery of characters ranging from Baba the Turk to Siebel in Faust, Cao returns to Butterfly with a run of late June performances at Cincinnati Opera. "Suzuki is a good role for me, but not because of my [birthplace]. We are from very different cultures -- Suzuki is Japanese, and I am Chinese. Our important connection is on the inside." More Suzukis are scheduled in 2002 at San Francisco Opera, which Cao has called her home company since her days as an Adler Fellow there.

Born, bred and educated in Shanghai, Cao emigrated to the U.S. ...