When Chinese conductor Yu Long stepped on the stage in Vatican City's spacious Paul VI Audience Hall packed with 7,000 on Wednesday evening (7 May), he knew he was going to make history.

On a red carpet in the centre of the hall sat Pope Benedict XVI in his throne, flanked by the Vatican college of cardinals on the right and a Chinese VIP delegation on the left.

When Mozart's Requiem was echoing in the hall, it was a landmark for Yu as well as China's music history.

Yu was conducting the China Philharmonic Orchestra and Shanghai Opera House chorus - the first time Chinese artists performed for the Pope.

"As the leading orchestra in China, it is our firm belief that music can serve as a powerful instrument to deepen understanding and friendship among peoples and cultures. May our performance be a message of peace and love," Yu said before the concert started.

In attendance were Vatican officials, diplomats from embassies to the Vatican, Catholics in Rome, governmental officials from Italy and other guests invited by the Pope.

Yu's words and the presentation of Mozart's Requiem, along with the special encore piece of Puccini's rendering of Chinese folksong Jasmine, were greeted by thunderous applause from the audience.

And then the Pope, a Mozart aficionado, walked onto the stage to congratulate Yu and other Chinese musicians.

"It is the best Requiem by Mozart I have heard," the Pope said in English.

"Danke," Yu replied in German.

Then, addressing the audience, the Pope said: "Tonight's concert is significant for me and for all of you. It gave us an opportunity to get a glimpse of the live China today.

"The hall we gather together tonight is a window to the world. Tonight I meet the Chinese musicians here and in my eyes, they represent all the Chinese people. I would like to meet them all "

Ending his speech, the Pope surprised everyone in the hall by speaking in Chinese: "Thank you all and wish everybody yi qie shun li (smooth sailing)."

Yu could not hide his amazement at the performance even after the show.

"It's a sacred place which made our performance more meaningful and a perfect venue to better understand Mozart's Requiem," he told China Daily.

"This is a wonderful moment we will cherish long in our memories," said the 44-year-old.

Born and brought up in a family of musicians, Yu was led into a music career by his grandfather Ding Shande, a renowned composer. He furthered his studies at the Shanghai Conservatory and the Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin.

Ever since he returned from eight years in Berlin and became the principal guest conductor of one of the top opera houses in China, Yu has been making headlines in classical music.

He was one of the first to initiate New Year special concerts.

Then, with the goal of creating a music holiday to match Salzburg or Tanglewood, he began to lobby for the Beijing Music Festival, which premiered in 1998.

Over the past decade, the festival has presented many historic China debuts including Alban Berg's modern opera Lulu, performed by Heliken Opera from Russia; and Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand, performed by 1,000 artists from 11 ensembles under Yu's baton.

He also conducted the first concert held in a cathedral in China. (By CHEN JIE/ China Daily/ ANN)