The team in the press conference
Photo by Luo Xiaoguang / chncpa.org

From 9 to 12 April 2015, Richard Strauss's opera Der Rosenkavalier, directed by Gilbert Deflo and staring renowned singers including Caitlin Hulcup, Rachele Gilmore, Liang Ning and Huang Ying will be staged in the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing. It marks also the opening performance of NCPA Opera Festival 2015, a carnival lasting 95 days which will offer 11 productions to the audience. 

German conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing
Photo by Luo Xiaoguang / chncpa.org

As a new NCPA production, Der Rosenkavalier witnesses the second cooperation between NCPA and the world-famous director Gilbert Deflo in the field of opera. His 2013 version of Verdi's Nabucco gathering maestro Plácido Domingo, Vladimir Stoyanov, Yuan Chenye and Sun Xiuwei drew admiring reviews from the Chinese audience. Together with Gilbert Deflo, Caitlin Hulcup, Rachele Gilmore, Liang Ning and Huang Ying will jointly demonstrate the legendary love story set in Vienna and this production will also certainly be highly anticipated by our audience. Additionally, the new production will incorporate pithy and luxurious scenery by Alessandro Camera, who revives on stage a vivid and exquisite painting of the aristocracy in Vienna. 

Michaela Kaune (right) as the Marschallin and Caitlin Hulcup (left) as Octavian
Photo by Luo Xiaoguang / chncpa.org

The opera boasts a starry cast, featuring German soprano Michaela Kaune and bass Manfred Hemm. Michaela Kaune acting the Marschallin has performed on numerous prestigious stages, including Semperoper Dresden and Opéra National de Paris and Manfred Hemm who sings Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau has appeared in many German operas of Metropolitan Opera and Bayreuth Festspielhaus. It's worth mentioning that the "male leading role" Octavian performed by a mezzo-soprano will be tackled by Australian artist Caitlin Hulcup and Chinese artist Liang Ning. The shift of two figures between chambermaid and count poses both the vocal and dramatic challenge. Another title role Sophie von Faninal will be taken on by sopranos Huang Ying and Rachele Gilmore, the latter has made her debut at La Scala in 2011-2012 Season, becoming a rising talent who has attracted much attention from the opera world. 

Chinese singer Liang Ning (left) and Huang Ying (right) in the scene of presenting the ceremonial silver rose
Photo by Luo Xiaoguang / chncpa.org

Following Der Rosenkavalier, NCPA will also present successively in 2015 a whole new batch of productions, including Giordano Umberto's Andrea Chenier (co-produced by NCPA and the Royal Opera House), Giuseppe Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, Saint-Saen's Samson et Dalila and several NCPA's commissions such as Sunrise, Fang Zhimni and The Long March. Additionally, we will also revive Rickshaw Boy, Norma, Le Nozze di Figaro, L'Elisir d'Amore and Il Trovatore.