Don't Miss These Four Upcoming Performing Arts Events

The official Spring Festival holiday is over, and now is the perfect time to look forward to upcoming events in Beijing. I love the performing arts, but I’m a bit ashamed to say that I don’t go out to shows as much as I’d like. In the Year of the Snake, however, I’m determined to make a change. Here are four upcoming performing arts events in the city that I am particularly interested in checking out. Take a look – you just might find something that interests you, too!

La Traviata 

Verdi’s beloved tragedy is brought to life with the talents of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) opera troupe, choir and orchestra. Based on the play La Dame aux Carmélias by Alexandre Dumas fils, the opera, which tells the doomed love story of courtesan Violetta and her lover Alfredo, has been one of the most popular and performed operas for 150 years. 

Venue: NCPA – Opera House
Language: Italian
Date & Time: Feb 12-16, 7pm
Price: RMB 160-1,080
Booking: Call 66550000, visit www.chncpa.org, scan QR code in poster, or search 茶花女 in your event-booking mini program of choice

National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA) – Opera House 国家大剧院·歌剧院
2 Xi Chang'an Jie, Xicheng District
西城区西长安街2号

Zubin Mehta and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Co-founded in 1999 by legendary conductor Daniel Barenboim and literary giant Edward Said, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra endeavors to encourage coexistence and promote intercultural dialogue. For 25 years, the orchestra has been committed to the cause of peace, bringing together young Israeli and Palestinian musicians, along with musicians from Arab and other countries, for rehearsals, concerts, dialogue and mutual understanding. Using music and shared experience as a base, the orchestra demonstrates the possibility for cooperation between people of different backgrounds and beliefs, as well as the hope for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – a resolution that affirms the worth, dignity, and humanity of all people. 

Renowned conductor Zubin Mehta leads the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra for these concerts in Beijing. With a career spanning more than 60 years, Mehta’s skills and artistry has been honored time and time again. He is recognized not only for his conducting and musical direction but also for his commitment to the goal of peace. He is conductor emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Clara-Jumi Kang was born in Germany to Korean parents. She is renowned for her musicianship and technical abilities and has received numerous awards and accolades around the world. She will be performing on the 1702 “Thunis” Stradivari violin.

These Beijing concerts are sure to be a treat and a sorely needed reminder of what can be possible when the sides of a bitter conflict are brought together in the spirit of communication, mutual respect, and peace.

Feb 25 Program:

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral", Op. 68

i.Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande. – Allegro ma non troppo
ii. Szene am Bach. – Andante molto moto
iii. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. – Allegro
iv. Gewitter, Sturm. – Allegro
v. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. – Allegretto

——Intermission——

Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 9 in C Major "The Great", D. 944

i. Andante – Allegro ma non troppo – Più moto
ii. Andante con moto
iii. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
iv. Finale. Allegro vivace

Feb 26 Program:

Carl Maria von Weber
Oberon Overture

Jean Sibelius
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47

           i. Allegro moderato
           ii. Adagio di molto
           iii. Allegro, ma non tanto

——Intermission——

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36

i. Andante sostenuto–Moderato con anima
ii. Andantino in modo di canzona
iii. Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato – Allegro
iv. Finale: Allegro con fuoco

Venue: NCPA – Concert Hall
Date & Time: Feb 25 & 26, 7.30pm
Price: RMB 580-1,280
Booking: Call 66550000, visit www.chncpa.org, scan QR code in poster, or search 祖宾·梅塔与西东合集管弦乐团音乐会 in your event-booking mini program of choice

National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA) – Concert Hall 国家大剧院·音乐厅
2 XI Chang'an Jie, Xicheng District
西城区西长安街2号

Hamlet

This Chinese adaptation of Hamlet, premiered by the NCPA in 2016, is a forceful interpretation of Shakespeare’s timeless, towering work of betrayal and revenge framed by a telling of the life and extraordinary wartime perseverance of translator Zhu Shenghao, one of the first people in China to seriously translate Shakespeare’s works into Chinese. Zhu Shenghao translated 31 of Shakespeare’s works into Chinese, and his translations remain incredibly influential to scholars and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike.

Venue: NCPA – Theatre
Language: Chinese
Date & Time: Feb 21 & 22, 7.30pm; Feb 23, 2.30pm; Feb 25-27, 7.30pm
Price: RMB 100-580
Booking: Call 66550000, visit www.chncpa.org, scan QR code in poster, or search 哈姆雷特 in your event-booking mini program of choice

National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA) – Theatre 国家大剧院·戏剧场
2 XI Chang'an Jie, Xicheng District
西城区西长安街2号

Singin’ in the Rain 

Fans of the classic film, rejoice! This international production of the beloved romantic comedy Singin' in the Rain is coming to the Beijing Performing Arts Center (BPAC). It will bring audiences along for a lighthearted romp, telling the story of a group of actors’ amusing efforts to make the transition from silent film to “talkies” in the Hollywood of the late 1920s. Previous performances on this current international tour have been positively reviewed, and this stage adaptation is sure to delight Beijing with impressive choreography, technical theater tricks, masterful singing, and superb acting. 

Venue: BPAC – Opera House
Language: English with Chinese surtitles
Date & Time: Feb 14-16, Feb 18-23, Feb 25-27: 7.30pm; Feb 15-16 & Feb 22-23: 2.30pm
Price: RMB 80-1,080
Booking: Call 66550000, visit www.chncpa.org, scan QR code in poster, or search 雨中曲 in your event-booking mini program of choice

Beijing Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) – Opera House 北京艺术中心·歌剧院
Bldgs 1 & 2, Courtyard 1, Lüxin Lu, Tongzhou District
通州区绿心路1号院1号楼、2号楼

READ: Day & Night Around Beiluoguxiang

Images: Courtesy of the venues