The 10th National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) International Opera Film Exhibition opened Saturday in Beijing, bringing world-class performing arts to cinema screens and cultural venues across China.
Jointly organized by the NCPA and China Film Group Corporation, this year's exhibition will showcase 22 world-class stage productions over nearly six months.
The opening film, "Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 80th Anniversary Concert," recorded at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, offers audience an immersive experience of iconic musical theater selections.
"As a musical theater major, many of these scenes are segments our teachers analyzed in class, and some are pieces we have sung. Displaying them in a cinematic format allows us to appreciate the unique charm of musicals in a much more direct way," said Wang Jiayi, a student at the Communication University of China.
Centered on opera, this year's film exhibition brings together premium productions from 25 leading arts organizations across 14 countries. The lineup features a diverse range of artistic disciplines, striking a balance between classical repertoire and modern innovation while blending traditional performance styles with technology.
The exhibition is also breaking new ground by expanding abroad for the first time. Through a global theater alliance, high-quality stage productions by the NCPA will be screened in various countries and regions, including Colombia, Vietnam, and Mexico, to showcase Chinese artistry to global audiences.
"This year's edition involves the highest number of participating countries and the largest selection of films in the event's history. The screenings will span cinemas and universities nationwide. Through this platform, we hope to showcase charisma and performance of Chinese artists," said Ma Rongguo, NCPA vice president.
Over the past decade, the International Opera Film Exhibition has successfully broken boundary between live stage performance and the silver screen. Since its inception, the project has brought over 100 classic stage titles to more than 30 cities across China, reaching an audience of over 350,000 people across nearly 4,500 screenings.
10th NCPA International Opera Film Exhibition opens in Beijing
