ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Tenor Warren Mok reveals how a life of reading fueled his growth and artistic career
Behind opera’s curtain
By Published: Apr 08, 2026 09:30 PM
Editor's Note:
In an age of information overload, reading remains a necessary channel to invigorate the mind, provide inspiration and cultivate virtue. Whether it is childhood enlightenment or the pursuits of adulthood, everyone's reading journey carries unique emotions and life experiences.
The Global Times has specially launched the "100 Avid Readers" series, inviting guests from various fields to share their connections with books, stories of growth and sparks of thought.
In this installment, Warren Mok, one of China's top three tenors, shares the reading journey that has accompanied his entire artistic career and laid a solid foundation for his operatic performances.
On stage, Warren Mok pours out his soul through song, captivating audiences with his powerful voice in the world's top opera houses. When away from the spotlight and applause, he finds peace in the pages of classics, exploring the depths of words and seeking answers.
As a globally recognized opera performer and one of China's top three tenors, Mok, who now lives in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has played major roles in more than 60 operas. Yet reading has always been the fundamental spiritual nourishment that has sustained both his artistic career and his life journey.
Mok told the Global Times that from his early days studying abroad, when he would line up at the library just to borrow books, to today, when he still manages to keep up a wide range of reading despite a busy schedule, reading has not only deepened his understanding of opera but also shaped the way he sees the world and approaches his work. This has given him a deeper appreciation of how important reading is in people's lives.
Persistence in library
In the 1980s, before the internet became widespread, the school library was a treasure trove for Mok: It allowed him to absorb the artistic nourishment he craved while studying abroad. Vocal music books and vinyl records were highly sought-after resources at the time. In order to borrow the materials he wanted, Mok had to get in line early at the library, and each item could be checked out for only two weeks.
"No matter if you had finished it, you had to return it on time because so many people were waiting to borrow it," Mok recalled. He would listen to those vinyl records, carrying the essence of generations of singers' interpretations, over and over, studying each passage intently. He pored over the biographies of world-famous composers, using reading to explore how their life experiences and historical backgrounds influenced their music and emotion.
To get closer to the soul of each work, Mok learned German while in Germany, transitioning from relying on English translations to understanding the original German lyrics of art songs. This immersive approach, blending knowledge from books with musical practice, gave Mok a much deeper grasp of opera than just the melodies on the surface. By the time he stepped onto the opera stage himself, this accumulation made his interpretation of each character far more three-dimensional. "Understanding the historical background and the emotional roots of the characters lets you truly become the role, not just recite lines and sing lyrics," Mok said.
In addition to his passion for Western music and literature, Mok also deeply appreciates Chinese literary classics, such as Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdoms - works he read years ago. He admitted that the intricate characters, emotional entanglements, and connection to real life in Dream of the Red Chamber showed him the enduring appeal of the classics. By reading and reflecting on both Chinese and foreign masterpieces, Mok developed a deeper understanding of what it means to read a classic, regardless of where a work comes from; those that transcend time can always resonate with contemporary life.
Meaning of reading
Today, Mok's schedule is filled to the brim, but he still maintains a daily reading habit. He doesn't deliberately take notes, but instead absorbs knowledge quickly through wide-ranging exploration. His reading, once mostly centered on music, now spans a much broader range of topics.
Mok still cherishes the habit of reading physical newspapers, nostalgic for "the scent of paper and the weight of books," though he also browses the news on his phone from different media outlets. "On the same news, different media report from completely different perspectives, so you have to use your own judgment and analysis," he said.
In recent years, Mok has been devoted to bringing high art to broader audiences and helping Chinese opera reach the world stage. He believes reading is a bridge for the public to enter the world of opera. Mok told the Global Times that spending just five minutes reading a synopsis or historical background before watching an opera allows people to better appreciate the music and performance. For example, for La Traviata, those who have read the original book and understood the author's narrative perspective and emotional expression can more deeply connect with the performers on stage.
As Mok sees it, the promotion of nationwide reading can further help the public engage more deeply with opera. He pointed out that reading, often in subtle ways, helps shape a person's thinking and character. "The more you read, the broader your outlook becomes. When analyzing things or dealing with people, you become less narrow-minded or impatient, and you don't make hasty decisions," the artist noted.
Mok has always believed that reading carries long-lasting significance for both action and character. From a young student borrowing books in the library to an artist sharing culture on the world stage, reading has been a constant companion throughout his journey. As someone who has gained so much from reading, Mok hopes more people will pick up a book and enjoy the pleasure of reading, making it a way of life, drawing strength from words, and expanding the boundaries of their own lives.
In an age of information overload, reading remains a necessary channel to invigorate the mind, provide inspiration and cultivate virtue. Whether it is childhood enlightenment or the pursuits of adulthood, everyone's reading journey carries unique emotions and life experiences.
The Global Times has specially launched the "100 Avid Readers" series, inviting guests from various fields to share their connections with books, stories of growth and sparks of thought.
In this installment, Warren Mok, one of China's top three tenors, shares the reading journey that has accompanied his entire artistic career and laid a solid foundation for his operatic performances.
Tenor Warren Mok Photo: Courtesy of Mok
On stage, Warren Mok pours out his soul through song, captivating audiences with his powerful voice in the world's top opera houses. When away from the spotlight and applause, he finds peace in the pages of classics, exploring the depths of words and seeking answers.
As a globally recognized opera performer and one of China's top three tenors, Mok, who now lives in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has played major roles in more than 60 operas. Yet reading has always been the fundamental spiritual nourishment that has sustained both his artistic career and his life journey.
Mok told the Global Times that from his early days studying abroad, when he would line up at the library just to borrow books, to today, when he still manages to keep up a wide range of reading despite a busy schedule, reading has not only deepened his understanding of opera but also shaped the way he sees the world and approaches his work. This has given him a deeper appreciation of how important reading is in people's lives.
Persistence in library
In the 1980s, before the internet became widespread, the school library was a treasure trove for Mok: It allowed him to absorb the artistic nourishment he craved while studying abroad. Vocal music books and vinyl records were highly sought-after resources at the time. In order to borrow the materials he wanted, Mok had to get in line early at the library, and each item could be checked out for only two weeks.
"No matter if you had finished it, you had to return it on time because so many people were waiting to borrow it," Mok recalled. He would listen to those vinyl records, carrying the essence of generations of singers' interpretations, over and over, studying each passage intently. He pored over the biographies of world-famous composers, using reading to explore how their life experiences and historical backgrounds influenced their music and emotion.
To get closer to the soul of each work, Mok learned German while in Germany, transitioning from relying on English translations to understanding the original German lyrics of art songs. This immersive approach, blending knowledge from books with musical practice, gave Mok a much deeper grasp of opera than just the melodies on the surface. By the time he stepped onto the opera stage himself, this accumulation made his interpretation of each character far more three-dimensional. "Understanding the historical background and the emotional roots of the characters lets you truly become the role, not just recite lines and sing lyrics," Mok said.
In addition to his passion for Western music and literature, Mok also deeply appreciates Chinese literary classics, such as Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdoms - works he read years ago. He admitted that the intricate characters, emotional entanglements, and connection to real life in Dream of the Red Chamber showed him the enduring appeal of the classics. By reading and reflecting on both Chinese and foreign masterpieces, Mok developed a deeper understanding of what it means to read a classic, regardless of where a work comes from; those that transcend time can always resonate with contemporary life.
Meaning of reading
Today, Mok's schedule is filled to the brim, but he still maintains a daily reading habit. He doesn't deliberately take notes, but instead absorbs knowledge quickly through wide-ranging exploration. His reading, once mostly centered on music, now spans a much broader range of topics.
Mok still cherishes the habit of reading physical newspapers, nostalgic for "the scent of paper and the weight of books," though he also browses the news on his phone from different media outlets. "On the same news, different media report from completely different perspectives, so you have to use your own judgment and analysis," he said.
In recent years, Mok has been devoted to bringing high art to broader audiences and helping Chinese opera reach the world stage. He believes reading is a bridge for the public to enter the world of opera. Mok told the Global Times that spending just five minutes reading a synopsis or historical background before watching an opera allows people to better appreciate the music and performance. For example, for La Traviata, those who have read the original book and understood the author's narrative perspective and emotional expression can more deeply connect with the performers on stage.
As Mok sees it, the promotion of nationwide reading can further help the public engage more deeply with opera. He pointed out that reading, often in subtle ways, helps shape a person's thinking and character. "The more you read, the broader your outlook becomes. When analyzing things or dealing with people, you become less narrow-minded or impatient, and you don't make hasty decisions," the artist noted.
Mok has always believed that reading carries long-lasting significance for both action and character. From a young student borrowing books in the library to an artist sharing culture on the world stage, reading has been a constant companion throughout his journey. As someone who has gained so much from reading, Mok hopes more people will pick up a book and enjoy the pleasure of reading, making it a way of life, drawing strength from words, and expanding the boundaries of their own lives.
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