Tosca premiers in Beijing

Tosca has made its debut at China's National Center for the Performing Arts. What makes this cast unusual is that there are two sets of leads, one Chinese, and the other, international.

ToscahasmadeitsdebutatChina'sNationalCenterforthePerforming
Arts.

Puccini's Tosca graced Beijing's newest grand stage, the National Center for the Performing Arts. It's been over a century since the opera premiered in Rome in 1900.

Tenor Dai Yuqiang, who plays the hero Mario Cavaradossi and soprano Zhang Liping, the *** Tosca, are the Chinese leads.

Zhang Liping, the soprano of "Tosca" said, “I've been waiting for this role for a long time. I have a lot of my own understanding of the role.”

TheChinatakeon"Tosca"opensthesummerseasonoftheNationalCenter
forthePerformingArts.

Dai Yuqiang, the tenor of "Mario" said, “I've sung the role many times abroad, but it's quite different when I sing the role in my home country.”

Their counterparts are Italian Marcello Giordani and Russian Natalia Ushakova. They will perform in turn with the Chinese leads as a treat for Beijing audiences.

The China take on "Tosca" opens the summer season of the National Center for the Performing Arts. Over a hundred shows will be staged during the next four months.

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