OPENING THE DOORS TO ART
The National Center for the Performing Arts’ recent open house serves as a microcosm of how the venue has popularized high-end performances over the past decade. Chen Nan reports.
Retiree Lu Zekang visited Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts in December 2007, shortly after the venue was built.
The native of Hubei’s provincial capital, Wuhan, was impressed by the venue’s size.
The 210,000-square-meter building designed by French architect Paul Andreu is twice as big as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Lu watched the inaugural performances of the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, featuring Chinese pianist Li Yundi, during his first visit.
“I had the rare opportunity to watch classical music performances,” he recalls.
“It was unforgettable to enjoy a great show at a grand venue.”
The 65-year-old has returned almost every year since — most recently, to attend the annual NCPA Open Day on Dec 22.
Over 70 programs were hosted in the NCPA’s various venues.
Costumed performers wandered around the building, posing for photos with visitors.
The NCPA Chorus sang songs from the center’s opera production, The Long March, which premiered in July 2016 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Red Army’s epic military retreat across the country over two years, starting in 1934, to evade Kuomintang forces.
The Beijing Symphony Orchestra performed under the baton of Tan Lihua. Programs included The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II and Spring Festival Suite by Li Huanzhi.
Kunqu and Peking Opera performers took to the public space outside the drama theater to showcase such classic works as Peony Pavilion by celebrated Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) playwright Tang Xianzu.
A brass band played Triumphal March to announce the time every hour.
The open day was part of the NCPA’s 10th anniversary and attracted over 7,000 visitors of all ages. The venue has staged the event every year since 2009.
“It’s a festival for audiences to enjoy various art forms and get close to artists at the NCPA,” the venue’s vice-president Wang Zhengming says.
“We’re happy that it has become a trend for audiences to attend the NCPA’s performances.”
The center has staged over 8,700 shows and sold about 9.3 million tickets over the past decade.
It has also hosted over 10,000 educational programs for nearly 20 million people to popularize such genres as classical music and opera.
And over 800 troupes from home and abroad have performed at the venue.
It hosts festival seasons every spring, summer and fall, featuring Chinese symphony orchestras, choirs, pianists and traditional Chinese operas.
Beijinger Xia Jingwei attended about 50 NCPA shows this year.
The 30-year-old doctor enjoys performances by Western musicians and dancers, and original NCPA operas.
One of her favorites is Lan Huahua, an original NCPA opera inspired by a popular folk song from Northwest China that debuted on Oct 1, China’s National Day. It’s the brainchild of veteran theater director Chen Xinyi, composer Zhang Qianyi and scriptwriter Zhao Daming.
“It’s great to watch a quality show at the theater,” Xia says.
“It’s so different from a pop concert. I not only enjoy the music and stage designs but also learn about history and culture.”
The NCPA has produced 25 original operas since its first, Xi Shi, debuted in 2009, Wang says.
It organizes an annual festival featuring a dozen homemade and imported operas to popularize the genre. It also hosts forums that bring together producers and managers from around the world.
Celebrity TV host Bai Yansong shared his thoughts on opera’s charm with about 100 guests at the NCPA on Dec 22. He says it took years for Chinese audiences to appreciate opera, since the Western art form is often considered “hard to understand”.
“Opera and classical music are pure arts to enjoy. The music, the costumes and the settings — everything comes together onstage,” Bai says.
“The NCPA has worked with many world-class opera houses and artists to introduce high-level productions. It also develops original works. It plays a vital role in promoting this art form in China.”
Chen, the theater director, explains that the NCPA has gone beyond bringing art to ordinary people to also train young Chinese performers.
It founded its choir in 2009, its orchestra in 2010 and its opera team in 2011. The NCPA established its own drama troupe last year.
The orchestra has toured North America twice. And the drama troupe has produced five Shakespeare plays, Chen says.
“I still recall being impressed by the iconic architecture when I first visited in 2007,” Chen says.
“But what’s overwhelming is when you look at the young artists’ growth and achievements.”
It’s a festival for audiences to enjoy various art forms and get close to artists at the NCPA.”