NCPA Opera Festival 2013
Venue
Dates
Duration
Approximate 150 mins (Intermission Included)About
Synopsis
Conductor
Artist
Presenter
Nabucco by Placido Domingo/ Vladimir Stoyanov/ Yuan Chenye
Abigaille by Sun Xiuwei/ Anna Pirozzi
Zaccaria by Li Liang/Kristinn Sigmundsson
Ismaele by Jin Zhengjian/Luciano Ganci
Fenena by Yang Guang/Hao Junhua
High Priest of Baal by Zhao Ming
Abdallo by Liu Naiqi
Anna by Zhang Jing
Nabucco (short for Nabucodonosor, English Nebuchadnezzar) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the Biblical story and the 1836 play by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornue. It is Verdi's third opera and the one which is considered to have permanently established his reputation as a composer. Nabucco follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered, and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco (in English, Nebuchadnezzar). The historical events are used as background for a romantic and political plot. Its first performance took place on 9 March 1842 at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan under the original name of Nabucodonosor. The definitive name of Nabucco for the opera (and its protagonist) was first used at a performance at the San Giacomo Theatre of Corfu in September, 1844. Nonetheless, a more plausible alternative for the establishment of this abbreviated form claims that it was the result of a revival of the opera in Teatro Giglio of Lucca.
Nabucco is NCPA's second Giuseppe Verdi's opera of the year. It's worth mentioning that famous stage designer Ezio Frigerio and costume designer Franca Squarciapino, who has won the Oscar Award of Best Costume Design for the movie Cyrano de Bergerac, will also participate in the production.
In the year of the 200th anniversary of Verdi's birth, there are nearly 30 opera houses in the world going to present Nabucco. NCPA has successfully invited renowned Plácido Domingo to perform in this version of opera, singing as Nabucco. Additionally, world famous baritone Vladimir Stoyanov, Yuan Chenye and soprano Sun Xiuwei, Elena Pankratova will sing the leading roles of the opera.
In Jerusalem and Babylon 587 BC. Nabucco, the king of Babylon, has invaded Jerusalem. The Israelites are denouncing their impending doom. After that, Nabucco takes the city and expels Jews. It is the patriotic feeling of Jews that touches and makes Verdi think about his own country which is still under the invasion of Austria. Verdi puts his emotions into music. And the opera is fulfilled with passionate spirits.
By the mid 1970's Kohn was conducting performances of opera in small companies, which led to James Levine inviting him to the Metropolitan Opera in 1980 where he debuted in La Gioconda with Renata Scotto and was subsequently engaged for several different productions.
Having the opportunity to deepen his study with Erich Leinsdorf, Mo. Kohn began performing the central European symphonic repertoire with regional orchestras.
Through the 1980's and 1990's Mo. Kohn began working internationally, including at the major opera houses of Vienna, Hamburg, Berlin (both), Buenos Aires, Barcelona, Rome, Naples, etc.
He also held permanent positions as Principal Guest Conductor at the Bonn Opera, where he broadened his German repertoire with productions of Der Fliegende Hollander, Der Rosenkavalier,Die Zauberflote, Fidelio and others, and Music Director of the Puerto Rico Symphony, which added extensive repertoire of Stravinsky, Janacek, Shostakovich, Bruckner and Mahler under his leadership.
For the last 25 years Mo. Kohn has enjoyed a close association with Plácido Domingo. The two have performed together extensively in opera and concert worldwide, and their continuing collaboration is richly documented on CD and DVD.
Since 2008 Kohn has been collaborating as well with Andrea Bocelli, and in addition to concert appearances together they have appeared at Deutsche Oper in Berlin, where they return in 2011 for Werther.
Eugene Kohn has recorded for EMI, Sony, and DECCA, and can also be seen as screen actorin Zeffirelli's Callas Forever (with Jeremy Irons and Fanny Ardant) where he recreates his real life role from 40 years earlier as Ms. Callas' accompanist.
Nabucco |
Abigaille |
Zaccaria |
Ismaele |
Ferena | |
22nd |
Plácido Domingo |
Sun Xiuwei |
Li Liang |
Jin Zhengjian |
Yang Guang |
23rd |
Vladimir Stoyanov |
Anna Pirozzi |
Kristinn Sigmundsson |
Luciano Ganci |
Hao Junhua |
24th |
Plácido Domingo |
Sun Xiuwei |
Li Liang |
Jin Zhengjian |
Yang Guang |
25th |
Vladimir Stoyanov |
Anna Pirozzi |
Kristinn Sigmundsson |
Luciano Ganci |
Hao Junhua |
26th |
Yuan Chenye |
Sun Xiuwei |
Li Liang |
Jin Zhengjian |
Yang Guang |
His recent productions include Semiramide in Théatre des Champs-élysées, Cavalleria rusticana, Pagliacci in Arena di Verona, Manon Lescaut in Cagliari, etc.
After finishing architecture studies, he approached theatre art by realising the costumes for Casa di Bambola and L'opera da 3 soldi, two plays directed by Giorgio Strehler at Piccolo Teatro in the 1955-56 theatre season. From then on a fertile artistic marriage started between art director and producer, setting up several unique productions as I giganti della montagna (1966), Santa Giovanna dei macelli (1970), Re Lear (1972), Il temporale (1980), L'Illusion Comique, which premiered in 1984 at Théatre de l'Odéon in Paris, La grande magia, which premiered in 1985 and was reprised several times.
The collaboration with Strehler made Frigerio enter the world of opera: Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte were realized by Strehler and Frigerio between 1973 and 1996. Così fan tutte was being staged just before Strehler died.
Frigerio also created stage designs for the Burgtheater in Vienna: Trilogie der Sommerfrische (Trilogia della villeggiatura) by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Strehler, 1974; Judith by Hebbel, directed by Gerhard Klingenberg, 1975.
Other operatic stage designs include: Cherubini's Medea, directed by Liliana Cavani, for the Opéra National de Paris; Strauss' Elektra, directed by Nuria Espert, for De Munt Theatre in Brussels; Verdi's Ernani, directed by Luca Ronconi, 1980, Beethoven's Fidelio, directed by Werner Herzog in 1999 for the Teatro alla Scala in Milan; Bellini's Norma, directed by Piero Faggioni, for the Vienna State Opera in 1977; Verdi's Rigoletto, for the Polish National Opera in 1997.
Frigerio also created the sets for Liliana Cavani's movie Galileo e i Cannibali and Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Cyrano de Bergerac, which got an Oscar nomination in 1991.
Frigerio often collaborates with Italian costume designer Franca Squarciapino who is also Frigerio's partner in life.
Frigerio designed the grave of Rudolf Nureyev.
She frequently collaborates with Ezio Frigerio, who is also her partner and husband in life.
Awards:
Volavérunt(1999): Goya Awards for Best Costume Design(nomination)
La femme de chambre du Titanic(1998): Goya Awards for Best Costume Design
Le hussard sur le toit(1995): SNGCI's Nastri d'Argento Awards, César Awards (nomination)
Le colonel Chabert(1994): SNGCI's Nastri d'Argento Awards , César Awards (nomination)
Louis, enfant roi(1993): César Awards (nomination)
Cyrano de Bergerac(1990): César Awards, BAFTA Film Award for Best Costume Design, SNGCI's Nastri d'Argento Awards, Academy Award for Costume Design, European Film Awards
At the same time since 1989 he worked at the Salzburg Festival, Theatre Champs-Elysees, Chalet Theatre in Paris with the set design by Pier Luigi Pizzi, then respondeed to the La Scala in Milan. Recollaborated some years with the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
The 90s of the last century saw himwork in the Opera Bastille, National Theatre of Prague,Festival of Aix en Provance, Ravenna Festival, the Opera of Monte Carlo, Opera of Geneva, Maggio Musical Fiorentino, Baroque Festival of Versailles, Opera Garnier in Paris, Easter Festival in Salzburg, Teatro Liceu in Barcelona, Atticus Theater in Athens, Ginza Saison Theater in Tokyo, Theatre of the axes of Brussels, Amsterdam Opera, Teatro Comunale of Bologna, Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, Opera of Toulouse, National Theatre of Catalunya in Barcelona,Teatro Real Madrid, Metropolitain in New York, and collaborated with P.L.Pizzi,Ezio, Frigerio, Hugo de Ana, KM Gruber, Henning Brockaus, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, to name just a few.
In the new miennium, Vinicio Cheli continued to expand his collaboration with Ezio Frigerio, Hugo de Ana, F. Zeffirelli, V. Gergiev, Claudio Abbado, Nicola Joel, Quirino Conti, Mario Gas, in productions covering a vast realm of the opera repertoire.
In 2010, he set up La donna del lago of Rossini direqued by Luis Pasqual with scenes by Ezio Frigerio and costumes by Franca Squarciapino; Boris Godunojv directed by Andrei Konchalovsky
In the beginning of 2011, he worked in Senso a new opera directed scenes and costumes by Hugo De Ana. July 2011 'Medea' directed by Theodorakis in Syros Festival of the Aegean. In November of 2011, he worked in 'The sleeping beauty', first ballet of reopening of Bolshoi Theater. Vinicio Cheli also taught theatrical lighting at the New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan and at the Professional School of La Scala.
His versatility led him to perform collaborations in all areas at the highest levels like the State television, to have daily collaborations with artists like Dario Fo, Tonino Guerra, Mietta Corli, Hugo de Ana, Nicolas Joel, Ezio Frigerio, Josep Maria Flotats, Lindsay Kemp, Pier'Alli, Gianni Quaranta, Raffaele Curi, Lluis Pasqual, José Carlos Plaza, Tito Egurza, Margherita Palli, Luca Ronconi, William Landi, Peter Stein, Vladimir Vasiliev and many others passing from international conferences until the Theatre which he has a very special feeling.
In over a decade of successful career he has made over 360 productions and he has worked with major opera theatres around the world.
As of the end of 2012, Domingo had sung 3,632 performances of 142 roles – a repertoire size unmatched by any other celebrated opera singer in history. Most of these are tenor roles, but he has recently added the principle baritone roles of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, Rigoletto, I Due Foscari, Germont in La Traviata, and the title role in Nabucco, as well as that of Athanael in Massenet's Thais, to his list of achievements. Four more Verdi baritone parts –Giacomo in Giovanna d’Arco, and the Count di Luna in Il Trovatore – are scheduled to be added in 2013. Domingo's more than 100 recordings of complete operas, compilations of arias and duets, and crossover discs include Deutsche Grammophon's anthology of the complete Verdi arias for tenor and EMI’s albums of Wagnerian roles that he has not sung on stage: Siegfried in both Siegfried and Gotterdammerung, and Tristan in a complete recording of Tristan und Isolde. His extensive work in the recording studio has earned him eleven Grammy Awards and two Latin Grammy Awards, and he has won Emmy awards for the television film 'Homage to Seville' and for the Met's 'Silver Gala' program. He was the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year in 2010. Domingo has also made more than fifty music videos in addition to four feature films of operas: Carmen, La Traviata, Otello and Tosca, with the Mantua Rigoletto forthcoming. He has conducted many opera performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and Los Angeles Opera, among many other ensembles, and symphonic concerts with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, London Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, and numerous other orchestras. In 1990, Domingo and his colleagues José Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti spontaneously formed the Three Tenors, which performed from time to time and with enormous success all over the world and attracted many new fans to opera.
Born in Madrid in 1941 to parents who were zarzuela performers, Plácido Domingo was brought to Mexico at the age of eight. He attended Mexico City's Conservatory of Music, where he initially studied piano and conducting, but when his vocal talent was discovered he began to take voice lessons as well. At eighteen, he made his debut in a small role (Borsa in Rigoletto) at Mexico's National Opera, and his first performance as a leading tenor (Alfredo in La Traviata) took place in the city of Monterrey when he was twenty. After having spent three seasons with the Israel National Opera in Tel Aviv, where he sang 280 performances of twelve different roles, he launched his major international career in 1965, and since then he has performed at all of the world's most prestigious opera houses.
In 1993, Domingo founded Operalia, an annual international voice competition, which has helped to start the careers of many singers who have since become major figures on the world's stages. Each year, Operalia takes place in a different city, and in 2013 it will be held in Verona, contemporaneous with the centennial celebrations of the Arena di Verona's annual summer outdoor opera season. Domingo was also the prime mover behind Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist program and Los Angeles Opera's Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program, both of which are designed to nurture and support the careers of opera's future standard-bearers. Domingo is also Artistic Advisor for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas.
In his native Spain, Plácido Domingo has been awarded the Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Católica, the Medalla de la Orden de las Artes y las Letras de Espana, and the Premio Prinicipe de Asturias de las Artes; and in Mexico, where he grew up, he received the Aguila Azteca. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States and the titles of Commandant of the Legion of Honor in France, Honorary Knight of the British Empire, and both Grande Ufficiale and Cavaliere di Gran Croce of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He has received honorary doctorates from Oxford University and New York University for his lifelong commitment and contribution to music and the arts. In October 2009, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden presented him with the first Birgit Nilsson Prize (at one million dollars, the most generous prize in the world of classical music) for his outstanding achievements in opera; in accepting the award, Domingo said that it would 'greatly benefit my annual competition, Operalia.' He has raised millions of dollars through benefit concerts to aid the victims of Mexico's devastating 1985 earthquake, of the floods caused by Hurricane Paulina in Guerrero and Yucaton, also in Mexico and in El Salvador, and of the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, where, in 2009, the stage of the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts was named for him. In 2006, he conducted Verdi's Requiem Mass in Warsaw, to commemorate the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II's passing.
Now well into his sixth decade as a professional opera singer, Domingo shows no signs of slowing down: in 2012 he gave over eighty performances, between singing and conducting, in New York, Los Angeles, Valencia, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Berlin, Lisbon, Shanghai, Verona, London, Kiev, Santiago (Chile), Hermosillo (Mexico), Zurich, Salzburg, New Orleans, Seville, Vienna, Belgrade, Stockholm, Malmo, Prague and Acapulco, and 2013 will probably prove to be equally busy. He resigned as General Director of Washington National Opera at the end of the 2010-2011 season, after fifteen years in that position, but he continues as General Director of Los Angeles Opera.
Newsweek and other international publications have fittingly described Plácido Domingo as 'the King of Opera,' 'a true renaissance man in music,' and 'the greatest operatic artist of modern times.'
In 1996, he debuted in Don Carlos in Sofia. He had his Italian debut in 1998 in Macbeth at Teatro di San Carlo of Naples.
Since then, his international career has brought him to the most important opera houses of the world. Particularly noteworthy was his debut at Teatro Alla Scala of Milan in La Forza Del Destino, I Vespri siciliani in Busseto and in Ravenna under the direction of Pier Luigi Pizzi, La Traviata at Teatro Regio of Parma, the opening of the Teatro La Fenice in Le Roi De Lahore, his debut at the Opernhaus of Zürich together with Tsarskaya Nevesta, Attila at Teatro di San Carlo of Naples and Giancarlo Menotti's Il Console at Teatro Regio of Turin.
In 2008, his debut at the Metropolitan in New York in Pique Dame and in Lucia di Lammermoor, his return to Zürich in Don Carlo, Le Cid and Boris Godunov.
During the 2009 season he sang the main role in Macbeth at the Staatsoper of Berlin, in La Traviata at Teatro La Fenice of Venice, in La Favorita in Seville.
Mr. Yuan's clear and supple voice, matched with his facility to portray vastly different characters, have earned him international acclaim. For his Rigoletto with the Welsh National Opera, The Evening Herald described him as, '...outstanding in the title role, combining great vocal power with heartfelt emotion.' Mr. Yuan has put his stamp on this title role having performed it with Houston Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Minnesota Opera, Lyric Opera of San Antonio, Sacramento Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opera St. Louis, and the Welsh National Opera which was broadcast live on BBC.
In addition to performing with many of the United States and Canada's premiere Opera Houses and Symphonies, Mr. Yuan has favored the stage of many highly acclaimed venues stretching across Europe and Asia, including his native country China. Mr. Yuan is widely known for his compelling interpretations of the standard repertoire such as Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini and Verdi; however, this auspicious baritone is no stranger to the challenge of a world premiere. Mr. Yuan sang the Dragon King in the premiere Legend of YaoJi. In Beijing, at the National Center for the Performing arts, he showcased his seasoned artistry in the roles of Cheng Ying in Chinese Orphan and Zhou LuoPing in A Village Teacher.
Mr. Yuan's schedule continues to be exciting, including upcoming performances of Marcello in La Bohème with the Hang Zhou Philharmonic Orchestra and Chou En-Lai in Adams' Nixon in China with San Francisco Opera and at the Culture Center in Hong Kong, a role with which Mr. Yuan is especially familiar. 'Yuan sang Chou En-Lai with a gorgeous, burnished baritone, his poise bringing the mysterious figure to life.' Kansas City Star
Just a few of Mr. Yuan's symphony performances include: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with Singapore Symphony Orchestra, excerpts of Adams' Nixon in China with the Chicago Symphony and as a soloist in the Domingo Gala at Kennedy Center.
Sun Xiuwei studied vocal composition under a famous opera sopranist in Milan, Italy. She competed in many kinds of contests around the world within less than two years and won first prize six times. In 1994, she began her opera career with her first singing engagement of G. Verdi's La Traviata at the Tokyo Opera House. She sang in Norma, La Traviata, La Forza Del Destino, Trovatore, tilla, Suor Angelica, Andrea Chenier, Il Corsaro, Macbeth, Turandor, Pagliacci, and Requiem. She also sang Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly by G.Puccini, after her debut this production in Verona Di Arena, Italy, 1997, she played in this opera more than two hundred times around the world. She sang at opera houses in Roma, Bologna, Palermo, Trieste, Genova, Vanezia, Torre Di Lago, Catania, Verona, Italy; Berlin, Bonn and Carlsruhe, Germany; Nizza, France; Zurich, Switzerland; Oslo, Norway; Helsinky, Finland; Bilbao, Spain; Serbia; Washington, Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia in the United States; Toronto, Canada; and Santiago, Chili. She worked with famous cantors like Arena, Bartoletti, Domingo, Gatti, Nagano, Oren, Palombo, Renzetti,and Rizzi e Santi. She is one of the few Chinese sopranists that are still active on European opera stages.
First prize winner of the 'Mattia Battistini' contest in Rieti, Italy.
She started her career in 2007 at the Teatro Sociale of Como with a concert of arias by Giuseppe Verdi. Opera engagements include Tosca in Asti, Biella, Stresa, Aosta and Sanremo, Leonora in Il Trovatore at Derby Theatre in Milan, The Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro at Superga Theatre in Nichelino (Italy) and at Giuseppe Giacosa Theatre in Aosta, Abigaille in Nabucco at the Trentino Opera Festival (Italy), at the Teatro Cantero in Chiavari, Teatro Pedrazzoli in Fabbrico, Teatro Boiardo in Scandiano, Teatro Girolamo Magnani in Fidenza, Teatro of Carpi, Teatro Cavour in Imperia, Teatro of Novi Ligure and Opera of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Desdemona in Otello by G. Verdi in Aosta, Biella, Asti and Sanremo (Italy), Aida at the Teatro Cantero in Chiavari, at the Teatro Comunale in Carpi and at the Teatro Rossini in Lugo.
She has recently debuted as Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Teatro Regio Turin and at the Teatro Regio Parma.
In the current season she has also debuted as Leonora in Il Trovatore at the Teatro Comunale Bologna, as well as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth in the same theatre and at the Theatro Municipal in Sao Paulo (Brazil) directed by Bob Wilson.
Among her future and present engagements: Abigaille in Nabucco at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna and Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Opera Giocosa Savona.
After his debut in Europe at Teatro San Carlo in Napoli as Fasolt/Das Rheingold in 1998, Liang Li has become a highly acclaimed opera and concert singer with performances at important international companies and festivals.
Since 2006/07 the artist has been a member of the ensemble at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, where he sings all main roles of his Fach. His repertoire includes, a.o., Cardinal de Brogni/La Juive, Ramfis/Aida, Gremin/Eugene Onegin, Raimondo/Lucia di Lammermoor, Timur/Turandot, Sarastro/Die Zauberflote, Commendatore/Don Giovanni, Oroveso/Norma, Fasolt and Fafner/Das Rheingold, Daland/Der Fliegende Hollander, Konig Marke/Tristan and Isolde and Gurnemanz/Parsifal.
Recent seasons brought Li Liang with concerts of Verdi's Requiem to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, with Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9" to the Mozarteum Salzburg and with Dvorak's Stabat Mater to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Prague, debut at Semperoper Dresden as King Marke, his role debut as Gurnemanz in a new production of ?Parsifal" at Theater Basel as well as Gurnemanz in a revival of Parsifal at Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. Besides, he sang numerous performances at the Staatsoper Stuttgart.
Guest engagements led the artist among others as Arkel to the Wiener Festwochen and the Edinburgh Festival, as Konig Marke to Montpellier, as Bartolo/Le Nozze di Figaro and Colline/La Bohème to the New National Theatre in Tokyo and as Sarastro to the Hallenstadion in Zurich. Additionally he sang Daland, Konig Marke and Verdi's Requiem at the Theater Basel, Fasolt at the Tiroler Festspiele and the Santander Festival, Daland at the Tiroler Festspiele in Erl as well as Banco/Macbeth at the Nationaltheater Mannheim.
He has sung at the world's greatest opera houses: The MET, Covent Garden, L'Opéra National de Paris, Vienna State Opera, Munich State Opera and the Semperoper Dresden. His broad repertoire extends from Don Basilio and Mustafa over Zaccaria to Gurnemanz. Recent engagements include: Landgraf in Tokyo and Strasbourg, Konig Heinrich and Sarastro in San Francisco, Baron Ochs at the Maggio Musicale Florence; Konig Marke in Berlin and Dallas, Rocco in Houston, Zaccaria in Copenhagen and Baron Ochs, Osmin and Vodnik at the MET.
He has worked with many of the world's best known conductors: James Levine, Riccardo Muti, Sir Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, James Conlon, Christoph von Dohnányi, Jeffrey Tate, Christoph Eschenbach, Bertrand de Billy and Kent Nagano.
Since 2005, he has sung Jiao Daxing in China's original opera Wild Prairie for more than 30 times in various versions of the opera, including the 20th anniversary version, NCPA concert version, and mini-theater version.
In 2007, Jin participated in the premiere of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde in China, as the only Chinese performer in the opera and working with China Philharmonic and numerous world-class artists. In 2008, he performed in the premiere of the original Chinese opera Farewell to My Concubine (as Han Xin) in Beijing, and the six-city tour in the U.S., which was called the "Ice-breaking Trip of Chinese Opera in America". In April, 2008, he sang in the French opera Le roi d'Ys (as Mylio) in NCPA. His performance was highly praised by the French, and, as a consequence, he was sponsored by the French government to study in France. In June, 2008, he sang the leading role in the original Chinese opera Goodbye Again, Cambridge (as Xu Zhimo). In November, 2009, Goodbye Again, Cambridge, with Jin as the leading role, was staged in the Multi-functional Theatre in NCPA. In May and September, 2009, he sang in the premiere and second public performance of the Chinese original opera The Song of Youth, successfully portraying two distinctively different characters, Lu Jiachuan and Yu Yongze, in the opera. In 2010 and 2011, he sang Gastone in La Traviata in NCPA.
He has performed in many important events including Handel's oratorio Messiah as soloist or leading singer. As a Chinese artist, he has visited Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia, the U.S.A., Canada, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
The Fifth Sister, with Jin as the leading role, won the New Production Award and Grand Award of the Splendor Award in the 7th China Art Festival in 2004 and was named one of the 30 Works of Excellence on the Nation's Stage in 2005. In 1999, he was a finalist in the Japan Shizuoka International Singing Competition. As a Singer of Excellence, he took part in the Concert of Singers of Excellence in China zone of the Shen Xiang International Singing Competition.
In 2000, he won a silver prize in the BBK Young Singer Competition held by CCTV. In the same year, he won a Lark Cup silver prize for professional singers.
In 2001, he sang in Mozart's Trilogy of Love at the Teatro Argentina of Rome, together with Mr. Renato Bruson. He debuted at the international festival Severino Gazzelloni in the role of Don Basilio/Le Nozze di Figaro; in September, debuted as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. Later, he performed in La Traviata in Palermo and in Haifa (Israel); he interpreted the role of Rodolfo in La Bohème in Prague and Zlìn, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Teatro Politeama in Palermo, Oronte in I Lombardi alla prima crociata. He debuted the role of Turiddu in the Opera Cavalleria Rusticana in Nuova Delhi in India. He just debuted Manrico in Il Trovatore for the Ravenna Festival and Il Corsaro as Corrado for the opening night of Teatro Verdi in Trieste.
He won the first absolute prize, the critics prize and the audience prize at the VIII International Opera Competition Ottavio Ziino of Rome.
Miss Yang has sung her Amneris in Aida with the Florida Grand Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, and Opera Omaha, the San Francisco Opera, and the same role for her returning to the Deutsche Oper, Berlin where the mezzo has sang her first Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. Miss Yang sang the title-role Carmen in student performances and as Santuzza in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Cavalleria Rusticana. Miss Yang has sang her first Eboliin Don Carlos (in the original French 5-act version) with Welsh National Opera, a role she reprised for the Canadian Opera Company in 2007/2008 after making her debut with this company as the Second Norn and Waltrautein Gotterdammerung. Miss Yang has working with the Metropolitan Opera for the their 2011 Japan tour .
In concert, Miss Yang appears with the Milwaukee Symphony as the Mezzo-Soprano soloist in a program based on Shakespeare, conducted by Nicholas McGegan. She also made her Chicago Symphony debut as the Alto Solo in Tippett’s A Child of Our Time under Sir Andrew Davis and performed in recital at the Chicago Cultural Center. She is the mezzo soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera under Mo. Carlo Rizzi. The same part she has also done it with the Orchestre de Paris, under Mo. Christopher Eschenbach. Miss Yang has also sung the solo part in the Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Cleveland and a recital in Hong Kong Art Festival. Miss Yang has performed in 1998 & 2008 concerts in New York City for the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s Gala concert.
As a tenor actor from China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Liu starred in the operas such as Turandot, Gianni Schicchi, Le Nozze di Figaro, Le Barbier de Séville, Salome, Tosca, Un Ballo in Maschera and Il Trovatore. It is worth mentioning that Liu was in the spotlight for he put in an excellent performance in Gianni Schicchi at NCPA. As the Music Weekly comments: “Young tenor actor Liu Naiqi who played Gerardo stands out from others and his beautiful voice bears comparison with the great Italian tenor Stefano at his early life.
In 2002, Liu won golden prize in National Adolescent Talent Contest and other prizes in national contests such as CCTV Young Singers Contest and Golden Bell Awards.
NCPA Chorus was established in December 8, 2009, whose members are carefully selected from music schools around China. Now the Chorus has Wu Lingfen as the conductor, with many artists well-known in China and abroad giving instructions. Affiliated to NCPA, the highest palace of performing arts in China, the Chorus adheres to NCPA's guiding principles of "for the people, for the arts, and for the world". The Chorus mainly stages operas and concerts, and also takes part in kinds of cultural communication events.
Ever since its establishment, the Chorus has taken part in the performances of the music and dance epic Road to Revive. Then, on May 2nd, 2010, the Chorus presented its debut performance in the Concert Hall of NCPA, and later the "2010 NCPA Opera Festival Concert", "Roam About the Classics - Chorus Classics in the Opera World: China NCPA Concert Hall Orchestra and Chorus Concert", the "NCPA Chorus Concert for the Army Day", to name just a few. As a crucial group in the artistic production of NCPA, the Chorus has taken part in and gained critical acclaim from the performances of NCPA's original opera Xi Shi conducted by Chen Zuohuang, French opera Carmen, La Traviata conducted by Lorin Maazel, and L'elisir d'amore conducted by Lu Jia.
The Chorus offers over a hundred performances in 2010 with the highlights including various concerts in the autumn season, performances in the NCPA version of Turandot and NCPA original opera Xi Shi at the end of this year, among others, which would surely contribute to the development of NCPA.
China NCPA Orchestra keeps an international standard for its arts quality and management. The musicians are from various countries and regions, and most of them have experience from working or studying in Europe or North America. Many artists have worked with this orchestra, including Maestro Lorin Maazel, Maestro Christoph Eschenbach, and soloists such as Stephen Kovacevich, Wang Yuja, Han-Na Chang, Leo Nucci, etc. Maestro Lorin Maazel has appeared with the orchestra in several operas and concerts, in his view it is 'an excellent, hard-working orchestra with great passion.' The orchestra keeps close working relationships with Maestro Maazel and Maestro Eschenbach.
In 2011, China NCPA Orchestra has won acclaim for its performances in NCPA's new productions of Tosca, The Barber of Seville, Die Fledermaus, and a newly composed opera The Chinese Orphan. At the same time, the orchestra was also deeply involved in NCPA's 2011 Gustav Mahler Cycle. Under the batons of maestros including Christoph Eschenbach, Yoel Levi and Jun Maerkl, the orchestra performed Mahler's Symphonies No. 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10. In this year the orchestra has also performed two concerts of contemporary music, with works from Takemitsu, Giya Kancheli, and a group of young Chinese composers. Mr. Kancheli himself attended the concert featuring his work.
Devoted to educational and outreach activities, China NCPA Orchestra has presented a series of Weekend Matinee Concerts since its establishment. With specially selected repertoire, performances of high quality and extremely low ticket prices, these concerts have won great acclaim from both audience and critics.
In 2012, China NCPA Orchestra will perform in NCPA's productions of The Flying Dutchman and Lohengrin. A notable list of artists including Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Roger Norrington, Yan Pascal Tortelier, and Rudolf Buchbinder will perform with the orchestra for the first time, and Maestro Christoph Eschenbach will also return to give multiple concerts. Various tours are also under preparation currently.
NCPA aims to build a world-class orchestra with operation and management conforming to global practices while incorporating Chinese characteristics.
Box officeNorth Gate of NCPA, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
Tickets collection hours9:30-19:30 (CST) on performance day
9:30-18:00 (CST) for days without performance
Booking line+86 10 6655 0000
Booking hours9:30-18:00 (CST) Monday to Friday
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information, however the hours, prices, and program details may vary due to last minute changes.
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Dedicated to the staging of epic operas, ballets and dance dramas, the golden Opera House is considered the centerpiece of the NCPA. Its main tone is golden color, which looks glamorous and splendid. In the auditorium are the stalls and three higher levels of balconies, which can seat an audience of 2,207, including the venue of SRO. It is equipped with a modern stage that can be moved up/down/backward/forward or rotated, a ballet stage that can slant, and a rising orchestra pit for the triple winds orchestra. All the cutting-edge staging mechanism provides artists with enormous possibilities of creative performance.
Dedicated to the staging of epic operas, ballets and dance dramas, the golden Opera House is considered the centerpiece of the NCPA. Its main tone is golden color, which looks glamorous and splendid. In the auditorium are the stalls and three higher levels of balconies, which can seat an audience of 2,207, including the venue of SRO. It is equipped with a modern stage that can be moved up/down/backward/forward or rotated, a ballet stage that can slant, and a rising orchestra pit for the triple winds orchestra. All the cutting-edge staging mechanism provides artists with enormous possibilities of creative performance.