ChinaFocus:CurtainrisesforanotheryearofthrivingculturalexchangesatprestigeChinesevenue_GuangmingOnlineChinaFocus:CurtainrisesforanotheryearofthrivingculturalexchangesatprestigeChinesevenueBEIJING,Jan.19(Xinhua)--Inthefirstmonthof2024,theNationalCentreforthePerformingArts(NCPA)locatedintheChinesecapitalBeijingispresentinganarrayofhigh-endperformancesbroughtbyforeignartists.Inthefirstfewweeksofthenewyear,numerousartistsandartgroupsfromabroadhavealreadygracedtheNCPAstagewiththeirperformances,includingthedanceensembleledbySpanishartistMariaPages,theRoyalNationalBalletofGeorgia,andRomanianpianistAndreiIvanovitch.ApartfrominvitingforeignartiststoBeijing,anumberofstageadaptationsofclassicforeign-languageplaysandotherliteraryworkscreatedbyChineseartistsalsohaveorareexpectedtohitthestageattheNCPA.Forinstance,theNationalTheatreofChina'sadaptationof"CyranodeBergerac,"amasterpiececreatedbyFrenchplaywrightEdmondRostand,wasperformedonJan.18.EXPANDINGCULTURALEXCHANGESToalargeextent,theNCPA'sschedulecontinuestoexemplifythepositivetrendofculturalexchanges,whichwasevidentin2023.In2023,China'sculturalmarketwitnessedasubstantialriseinthenumberofvisitingforeignartists.WiththeglobalrecoveryfromtheCOVID-19pandemic,culturalexchangeandcommunication,previouslyhinderedbytravelrestrictions,experiencedarevitalization.TheNCPA,oneofChina'smostesteemedculturalvenues,stagedanillustriouslistofforeign-relatedliveperformanceslastyear,reflectingthecontinuousexpansionofChina'sculturalexchangewiththerestoftheworld.Towardtheendof2022,NCPAPresidentWangNingextendedinvitationstoartinstitutionsworldwide,andreceivedawarmresponsefromglobalartists."IamverymuchlookingforwardtosharingthisgreatmusicthatisveryclosetomyheartwiththeBeijingaudiences,"saidJanVogler,GermancellistanddirectorofDresdenMusicFestival,beforevisitingBeijing.ThemusicianmadehisNCPAdebutonMarch12,2023,presentingarecitalfeaturingBach'scellosuites.Intheyear,theNCPAwelcomedabout20artistsandartgroupsfromaroundtheworld.NotablenamesamongthemincludepianistRudolfBuchbinderandtheViennaBoysChoir.BUILDINGBRIDGESMusicandartcantranscendbarriersamongpeoplefromdifferentcountries.Apartfrominvitingindividualsandartgroups,thevenuein2023alsohostedaplethoraofnational-levelculturalexchangeactivities.InNovember2023,theKazakhstanCultureDayGalawasheldattheNCPA.TheeventresonatedwiththeconsensusreachedbyChineseandKazakhleadersondeepeningculturalexchangeattheChina-CentralAsiaSummitheldinMayandallowedmoreChineseaudiencestosavortheuniqueKazakhculture.Inthesamemonth,aspecialconcertwasheldintheNCPAtocelebratethe50thanniversaryofaChinatourbytheprestigiousPhiladelphiaOrchestrafromtheUnitedStates.In1973,theorchestramadeitshistoricChinatour,whichmarkedathawintheChina-U.S.culturalexchangebeforetheofficialestablishmentofbilateraldiplomaticrelations.ViolinistDavydBooth,whoatthattimewaspartofthetourtoChina,canvividlyrecalltheunforgettableexperience."Thetourwasoneofthemostimportanteventsinmylife.Theperformancewasincredible.Itisstillastrongthreadthathascontinuedfor50years,"Boothsaid."TheChineseappreciationofWesternmusichasalonghistory.Now,thetalentsthatcomefromChina,likeLangLang,areabsolutelyawesome.Everytimewecomeback,theaudienceappreciationisreallywonderful,"Boothadded.COOPERATIONINARTStagingperformancesfeaturingforeignartistsisonlyoneaspectoftheNCPA'sculturalexchangespectrum.Inrecentyears,thevenuehasengagedinextensivecooperationwithforeigncounterpartstocreateoriginalworks.InSeptember2023,FrenchcomposerLeoDelibes'renownedopera"Lakme"madeitsChinadebut.Thisversionoftheoperawastheresultofclosecooperationbetweenfourculturalinstitutions,namelytheNCPA,theOman-basedRoyalOperaHouseMuscat,theVeronaArenaFoundationinItaly,andtheLosAngelesOperaHouseintheUnitedStates.Thisyear,theNCPAaimstoinjectnewimpetusintotheinternationalco-creationofperformingarts.OnJan.25,"RomeoetJuliette,"theoperaadaptationoftheplay"RomeoandJuliet"createdbyFrenchcomposerCharles-FrancoisGounod,willhitthestageattheNCPA.DirectedbyacclaimedItalianoperadirectorStefanoPoda,conductedbyChineseconductorXuZhongandstarringactorsandactressesfromChina,France,ItalyandGermany,theoperapresentsatimelesstalebyWilliamShakespearetoChineseaudiencesinarefreshingform.ThisisthefirstperformancethevenuewillstagetomarktheChina-FranceYearofCultureandTourismandthe60thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofdiplomatictiesbetweenChinaandFrance.Laterintheyear,moreworksofperformingartsareexpectedtobestagedtocelebratetheoccasion,includingadramabasedonVictorHugo'scelebratednovel"LesMiserables."Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.