Veteran American soprano sings China's praises

"In this age of jet travel, with opera managers and companies always looking for new stars, young singers who show talent are offered roles they should not be considering until much later," says Fleming.

In 2008, Fleming became the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to be the sole headliner at an opening night gala.

The four-time Grammy winner has performed at many distinguished occasions, including the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and the Diamond Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.

"While maintaining a career in classical music is a struggle, requiring discipline and hard work, I don't really think of my work as an effort to stay at the top," Fleming says.

"I want to be an advocate for this music, to make it accessible, and to have people enjoy it."

Fleming was one of the first sopranos to perform on television. She has hosted a wide variety of television broadcasts.

"As a classical singer, I practice an art that is hundreds of years old. I think singers have a duty to embrace new media, to keep our art relevant, and compete in an ever-expanding world of entertainment and media," says Fleming, who thinks opera telecasts are the way forward to reach new audiences and keep the art form "fresh and alive".

Fleming will perform songs from across two centuries of musical history at her concerts in China.

At her recital concert at Guangzhou Opera House, she will sing baroque opera arias, French chansons, folk song settings, classic American musical theater songs, Italian opera arias and her favorite - Strauss.

Fleming is always investigating new repertoire and she would like to explore more deeply about other genres like American "roots" music.

"When I began my career, there seemed to be very strict rules about what a singer of classical music and opera was supposed to perform," Fleming says.

"I find that this has changed and opened up over the years, and I hope I have been part of that."