EXHIBITS

• 

  Art Changes Life
  

  Adhering to the core value of "Art Changes Life", the NCPA continues to provide the public with top-notch cultural and artistic works and plays it role as a brand-new platform where the masses' spiritual and cultural life can be enriched.

  

  NCPA co-production of Bizet’s opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles

  

  NCPA production of Puccini’s opera La Fanciulla del West

  

  Rudolf Buchbinder and Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

  

  Franz Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra

  

  Chaos at the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition

  

  The Mariinsky Ballet Don Quixote

  

  Shanghai Dance Theatre dance drama The Eternal Wave

  

  Komissarzhevskaya Theatre Don Juan

  

  Performances Celebrating the 110^th Birthday of Peking Opera Master YANG Baosen

  

  Anqing Zaifen Huangmei Opera Theatre Huangmei Opera commission Huizhou Women
• 

  Beauty of the Architecture
  

  External Landscape

  The unique structure, changing curves and ingenious layout in the space of the NCPA constitute a magnificent symphonic poem, leaving visitors with an endless aftertaste. In October 2009, the NCPA was shortlisted for the "Top 16 Sights in Beijing" and "Top 10 New Buildings in Beijing". Also, with its modern and artistic architectural features, the NCPA has become a landmark of Beijing and a new cultural name card of China.

  

  External Landscape

  The NCPA demonstrates the idea of harmony between people and people, between human and art, and between man and nature in its uniquely shaped main body and limpid lake water, as well as the large area of greenbelt, trees and flowers in its surroundings.

  

  External Landscape—Nightscape

  When evening falls, the resplendent Opera House comes into sight through the gradually raised "curtain". The thickly dotted, well-arranged "mushroom lights" on the dome look like dazzling stars, echoing with the distant night sky, filling the NCPA with reserved and picturesque glamours and beauty.

  

  Opera House

  The Opera House is the most magnificent venue inside the NCPA. It is where operas, dance drams, ballets and large-scale performances are staged. The auditorium comprises stalls on the ground floor and a three-floor balcony, totaled 2,207 seats (including standing spaces). In the Opera House, there is an advanced stage that can be pushed, pulled, lifted, dropped and revolved, an inclinable ballet platform, and a lifting orchestra pit that can accommodate three wind orchestras. The world-leading stage machinery provides various possibility for performances.

  

  Opera House Stage

  The grid ceiling over the stage is 32m high, with booms, a lighting bridge and a traveling lighting gallery hung in the sky through steel wires. 61 electric booms, 78 tracked single-lift hoists and 24 trackless single-lift hoists are used to hoist the curtain and stage scenery, respectively. The lighting bridge, traveling lighting gallery and hanging light bracket hold 1,588 performance lamps above the stage. With quick responsiveness, the light shape can be changed in a few seconds.

  

  Concert Hall

  The colour and style of the Concert Hall look quiet, fresh and elegant. Large-scale symphonies and folk music, as well as other forms of music performances, are mainly performed here. The auditorium seating, which lies around the stage, comprises stalls on the ground floor and a two-floor balcony, totaled 1,859 seats (including standing spaces).

  

  Concert Hall—Pipe Organ

  In the Concert Hall, there is China's largest pipe organ with the maximum number of pins and chanters and richest timbres. It is the "treasure of the Concert Hall". All the architectural and decorative designs in the hall serve to enhance the acoustic effect in order to realize a perfect combination of architectural and acoustic aesthetics.

  

  Concert Hall—Ceiling

  The ceiling of the Concert Hall is an abstract modern artwork. Thanks to a special acoustic design, sounds can be diffusely reflected here, getting better-balanced and softer. The exquisite ceiling is actually a tailored decorative sound diffusion plate. Made of thick and dense fibre plasterboards, the ceiling can prevent low-frequency absorption, thereby enhancing interior low-frequency reverberation so that the bass effect (of the pipe organ, bassoon, cello, etc.) should be more soul-stirring and contagious. To achieve a perfect sound effect, a turtle back-shaped centralized anti-sound panel is hung under the ceiling to scatter sounds in all directions.

  

  Theatre

  The Theatre is the venue with the most distinctive Chinese national characteristics in the NCPA. With Chinese red as the dominant colour, the silk walls form a lively atmosphere with traditional characteristics. Dramas, operas and Chinese traditional operas are primarily performed at the Theatre. The auditorium comprises stalls on the ground floor and a three-floor balcony, totaled 1,036 seats (including standing spaces). There is advanced stage machinery at the Theatre, where a unique creation can be turned into a real performance. The unique projected apron stage stands in line with the characteristics of traditional Chinese theatrical performances.

  

  Theatre—Entrance

  The Theatre, located to the west of the Opera House, is of an overall style with the most distinctive Chinese national characteristics. It is where dramas, Peking Opera and local operas are mostly staged. The circle corridor of the Theatre and the little exhibition hall at the entrance to the Theatre are major venues for the presentation of static art, such as art exhibitions.

  

  Outside the Theatre—Stairs

  The stairs, red all over, look rhythmically dynamic in its spiral form, while the red wall prints on both sides are slightly raised, with the colour gradually turning black. Going down the stairs, visitors will be gradually led to another story scene.

  

  Multi-functional Theatre

  The Multi-functional Theatre is the most diversified multi-functional theatre of the NCPA, suitable for the performance of many genres of arts including chamber music, recitals, little theatre dramas, little theatre operas and modern dances. There are 469 seats (including self-folding seats) in 19 rows at the Multi-functional Theatre. It was built in September 2009 and opened in October 2009.

  

  Multi-functional Theatre—Glass Wall

  The acoustic barrier and floor-to-ceiling toughened glass wall behind the stage can be folded and unfolded to the left and right sides. When the barrier and wall are unfolded, an outdoor sunken plaza that covers an area of more than 500m² will come in sight similar to a back garden and be used as a stage background or as an extension of the stage, providing art creators with a larger space of imagination and creation.

  

  The Fifth Space

  Besides venues, there are also many public spaces inside the NCPA. The exquisite and unique architectural design, the spatial layout with outstanding artistic features, themed exhibitions and various small-scale performances allow the audience to savour the endless charm of art.

  

  The Fifth Space—Underwater Corridor

  The North Underwater Corridor below the artificial lake is a pathway that connects the north entrance and the main venues inside the NCPA. The underwater corridor is about 80m long and about 24m wide. Its top is a glass ceiling. During the daytime, the lake water over the corridor glints and ripples in the sun, casting its shadow on the ground through the glass ceiling, forming a delightful contrast with the well-spaced, bubble-like holes in the bluestone walls on both sides, giving visitors a feeling as if they were in the sea of art. At night, guided by two rows of exquisite glass lampposts all the way, the audience moves gradually away from the bustling entrance and walks in a mysterious golden copper gate, behind which there is a wonderful play to be staged to start a romantic, pleasing journey. On the east and west sides of the North Underwater Corridor are art exhibition halls, where various types of art exhibitions are held all year round.

  

  The Fifth Space—Olive Hall

  When arriving at Olive Hall via the North Underwater Corridor, the visitors will suddenly have an open view. Looking ahead, visitors will see three interior buildings arranged in order. The highest and most magnificent one, which stands in the middle, is the Opera House. On its left is the Concert Hall while the Theatre is on its right.

  

  The Fifth Space—NCPA Arts Gallery

  The NCPA Arts Gallery is the largest exhibition hall in the NCPA, located to the south of the roof terrace of the Opera House. From August 2008 onwards, many exhibitions have been held here including the "China Shoushan Stone Seal Carving Art Exhibition", "Exhibition of Artistic Achievements in Commemoration of the 30^th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up", "Exhibition on the Anniversary of the NCPA", and "Sparkling Splendour: An Exhibition of the NCPA’s Achievements". "Sparkling Splendour: An Exhibition of the NCPA's Achievements" is a permanent exhibition that introduces and reviews the history of the NCPA with abundant data, pictures and real objects, from which visitors will see the detailed growth process of the NCPA.

  

  Taihu Art Centre

  Located in Taihu Town, Tongzhou District, the Taihu Art Centre specializes in play production, synthetic rehearsal, set design, the production of scenery, props and costumes, stage art exchanges, warehousing and artist accommodations.

  

  Taihu Art Centre—Synthetic Theatre

  The Synthetic Theatre is the main performance venue, where there are 838 seats. The proscenium arch at the Synthetic Theatre is the same as that in the NCPA Opera House. This ensures the requirements of synthetic rehearsals.

  

  Taihu Art Centre - Art Exchange Building

  On the roof of the Art Exchange Building is a garden. As an overhung veranda of the Art Exchange Building, it serves to be an activity area for the audience and a rest area for communicators.
• 

  Operation and Innovation
  

  After 13 years of exploration and practice, the NCPA has gradually formed a unique management and operations pattern, which reflects the NCPA’s scientific management idea and high operational efficiency.

  

  The world’s leading stage technology and equipment

  

  The Lighting and Sound Control Room at the Theatre

  

  Security Control Room

  

  Set Design Centre

  

  Performance Broadcasting Room

• 

  Art Changes Life
  

  Adhering to the core value of "Art Changes Life", the NCPA continues to provide the public with top-notch cultural and artistic works and plays it role as a brand-new platform where the masses' spiritual and cultural life can be enriched.

  

  NCPA co-production of Bizet’s opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles

  

  NCPA production of Puccini’s opera La Fanciulla del West

  

  Rudolf Buchbinder and Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

  

  Franz Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra

  

  Chaos at the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition

  

  The Mariinsky Ballet Don Quixote

  

  Shanghai Dance Theatre dance drama The Eternal Wave

  

  Komissarzhevskaya Theatre Don Juan

  

  Performances Celebrating the 110^th Birthday of Peking Opera Master YANG Baosen

  

  Anqing Zaifen Huangmei Opera Theatre Huangmei Opera commission Huizhou Women
• 

  Beauty of the Architecture
  

  External Landscape

  The unique structure, changing curves and ingenious layout in the space of the NCPA constitute a magnificent symphonic poem, leaving visitors with an endless aftertaste. In October 2009, the NCPA was shortlisted for the "Top 16 Sights in Beijing" and "Top 10 New Buildings in Beijing". Also, with its modern and artistic architectural features, the NCPA has become a landmark of Beijing and a new cultural name card of China.

  

  External Landscape

  The NCPA demonstrates the idea of harmony between people and people, between human and art, and between man and nature in its uniquely shaped main body and limpid lake water, as well as the large area of greenbelt, trees and flowers in its surroundings.

  

  External Landscape—Nightscape

  When evening falls, the resplendent Opera House comes into sight through the gradually raised "curtain". The thickly dotted, well-arranged "mushroom lights" on the dome look like dazzling stars, echoing with the distant night sky, filling the NCPA with reserved and picturesque glamours and beauty.

  

  Opera House

  The Opera House is the most magnificent venue inside the NCPA. It is where operas, dance drams, ballets and large-scale performances are staged. The auditorium comprises stalls on the ground floor and a three-floor balcony, totaled 2,207 seats (including standing spaces). In the Opera House, there is an advanced stage that can be pushed, pulled, lifted, dropped and revolved, an inclinable ballet platform, and a lifting orchestra pit that can accommodate three wind orchestras. The world-leading stage machinery provides various possibility for performances.

  

  Opera House Stage

  The grid ceiling over the stage is 32m high, with booms, a lighting bridge and a traveling lighting gallery hung in the sky through steel wires. 61 electric booms, 78 tracked single-lift hoists and 24 trackless single-lift hoists are used to hoist the curtain and stage scenery, respectively. The lighting bridge, traveling lighting gallery and hanging light bracket hold 1,588 performance lamps above the stage. With quick responsiveness, the light shape can be changed in a few seconds.

  

  Concert Hall

  The colour and style of the Concert Hall look quiet, fresh and elegant. Large-scale symphonies and folk music, as well as other forms of music performances, are mainly performed here. The auditorium seating, which lies around the stage, comprises stalls on the ground floor and a two-floor balcony, totaled 1,859 seats (including standing spaces).

  

  Concert Hall—Pipe Organ

  In the Concert Hall, there is China's largest pipe organ with the maximum number of pins and chanters and richest timbres. It is the "treasure of the Concert Hall". All the architectural and decorative designs in the hall serve to enhance the acoustic effect in order to realize a perfect combination of architectural and acoustic aesthetics.

  

  Concert Hall—Ceiling

  The ceiling of the Concert Hall is an abstract modern artwork. Thanks to a special acoustic design, sounds can be diffusely reflected here, getting better-balanced and softer. The exquisite ceiling is actually a tailored decorative sound diffusion plate. Made of thick and dense fibre plasterboards, the ceiling can prevent low-frequency absorption, thereby enhancing interior low-frequency reverberation so that the bass effect (of the pipe organ, bassoon, cello, etc.) should be more soul-stirring and contagious. To achieve a perfect sound effect, a turtle back-shaped centralized anti-sound panel is hung under the ceiling to scatter sounds in all directions.

  

  Theatre

  The Theatre is the venue with the most distinctive Chinese national characteristics in the NCPA. With Chinese red as the dominant colour, the silk walls form a lively atmosphere with traditional characteristics. Dramas, operas and Chinese traditional operas are primarily performed at the Theatre. The auditorium comprises stalls on the ground floor and a three-floor balcony, totaled 1,036 seats (including standing spaces). There is advanced stage machinery at the Theatre, where a unique creation can be turned into a real performance. The unique projected apron stage stands in line with the characteristics of traditional Chinese theatrical performances.

  

  Theatre—Entrance

  The Theatre, located to the west of the Opera House, is of an overall style with the most distinctive Chinese national characteristics. It is where dramas, Peking Opera and local operas are mostly staged. The circle corridor of the Theatre and the little exhibition hall at the entrance to the Theatre are major venues for the presentation of static art, such as art exhibitions.

  

  Outside the Theatre—Stairs

  The stairs, red all over, look rhythmically dynamic in its spiral form, while the red wall prints on both sides are slightly raised, with the colour gradually turning black. Going down the stairs, visitors will be gradually led to another story scene.

  

  Multi-functional Theatre

  The Multi-functional Theatre is the most diversified multi-functional theatre of the NCPA, suitable for the performance of many genres of arts including chamber music, recitals, little theatre dramas, little theatre operas and modern dances. There are 469 seats (including self-folding seats) in 19 rows at the Multi-functional Theatre. It was built in September 2009 and opened in October 2009.

  

  Multi-functional Theatre—Glass Wall

  The acoustic barrier and floor-to-ceiling toughened glass wall behind the stage can be folded and unfolded to the left and right sides. When the barrier and wall are unfolded, an outdoor sunken plaza that covers an area of more than 500m² will come in sight similar to a back garden and be used as a stage background or as an extension of the stage, providing art creators with a larger space of imagination and creation.

  

  The Fifth Space

  Besides venues, there are also many public spaces inside the NCPA. The exquisite and unique architectural design, the spatial layout with outstanding artistic features, themed exhibitions and various small-scale performances allow the audience to savour the endless charm of art.

  

  The Fifth Space—Underwater Corridor

  The North Underwater Corridor below the artificial lake is a pathway that connects the north entrance and the main venues inside the NCPA. The underwater corridor is about 80m long and about 24m wide. Its top is a glass ceiling. During the daytime, the lake water over the corridor glints and ripples in the sun, casting its shadow on the ground through the glass ceiling, forming a delightful contrast with the well-spaced, bubble-like holes in the bluestone walls on both sides, giving visitors a feeling as if they were in the sea of art. At night, guided by two rows of exquisite glass lampposts all the way, the audience moves gradually away from the bustling entrance and walks in a mysterious golden copper gate, behind which there is a wonderful play to be staged to start a romantic, pleasing journey. On the east and west sides of the North Underwater Corridor are art exhibition halls, where various types of art exhibitions are held all year round.

  

  The Fifth Space—Olive Hall

  When arriving at Olive Hall via the North Underwater Corridor, the visitors will suddenly have an open view. Looking ahead, visitors will see three interior buildings arranged in order. The highest and most magnificent one, which stands in the middle, is the Opera House. On its left is the Concert Hall while the Theatre is on its right.

  

  The Fifth Space—NCPA Arts Gallery

  The NCPA Arts Gallery is the largest exhibition hall in the NCPA, located to the south of the roof terrace of the Opera House. From August 2008 onwards, many exhibitions have been held here including the "China Shoushan Stone Seal Carving Art Exhibition", "Exhibition of Artistic Achievements in Commemoration of the 30^th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up", "Exhibition on the Anniversary of the NCPA", and "Sparkling Splendour: An Exhibition of the NCPA’s Achievements". "Sparkling Splendour: An Exhibition of the NCPA's Achievements" is a permanent exhibition that introduces and reviews the history of the NCPA with abundant data, pictures and real objects, from which visitors will see the detailed growth process of the NCPA.

  

  Taihu Art Centre

  Located in Taihu Town, Tongzhou District, the Taihu Art Centre specializes in play production, synthetic rehearsal, set design, the production of scenery, props and costumes, stage art exchanges, warehousing and artist accommodations.

  

  Taihu Art Centre—Synthetic Theatre

  The Synthetic Theatre is the main performance venue, where there are 838 seats. The proscenium arch at the Synthetic Theatre is the same as that in the NCPA Opera House. This ensures the requirements of synthetic rehearsals.

  

  Taihu Art Centre - Art Exchange Building

  On the roof of the Art Exchange Building is a garden. As an overhung veranda of the Art Exchange Building, it serves to be an activity area for the audience and a rest area for communicators.
• 

  Operation and Innovation
  

  After 13 years of exploration and practice, the NCPA has gradually formed a unique management and operations pattern, which reflects the NCPA’s scientific management idea and high operational efficiency.

  

  The world’s leading stage technology and equipment

  

  The Lighting and Sound Control Room at the Theatre

  

  Security Control Room

  

  Set Design Centre

  

  Performance Broadcasting Room