[1][2] Zhang Liping was born in Wuhan, Hubei (about 650 miles south-west of Beijing) and is the daughter of a classical musician and a dancer.
[citation needed] David Fingleton, writing in the British newspaper, the Sunday Express, commented that Zhang gave a "clearly-drawn, thoughtful performance" which was a "tour-de-force".
[citation needed] The Detroit News wrote Zhang is "a Butterfly who does more than carry the show; she represents the world standard.
"[3] Malcolm Hayes, writing in The Sunday Telegraph, remarked that: "The biggest round of applause went to the Liu of Zhang Liping, whose sumptuous soprano had us hanging on her every note.
"[4] Geoff Brown wrote in The Times, "With Li Ping Zhang's lovelorn Liu, though, sweet drama and music came rolled into one.