Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1332685
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 JANUARY 2021 4 OPERA GIACOMO Puccini's most melodious work, the opera Turandot, will be pre- sented in Malta on two separate occa- sions. In an interesting collaboration between the Mediterranean Conference Centre and the China Cultural Centre in Malta, the opera whom the composer had not lived to complete, let alone see, may be seen twice on the boards of the Republic Hall at the Mediterranean Conference Centre this year. Turandot may initially be seen in a lav- ish new production by the China Nation- al Opera on the big screen on Sunday the 7th of February. This will be a private performance for an invited audience with the seating adhering to strict Cov- id restrictions as dictated by the Medical Authorities. The opera will be available to stream on the Mediterranean Confer- ence Centre's website. On the same day at 9pm, ONE television will also screen the production. An agreement has also been reached be- tween Valletta and Beijing, ensuring that once the dangers from of the pandemic have been eliminated, and safety restric- tions lifted, this same Turandot perfor- mance by the China National Opera, will give live performances of the opera on the MCC stage. Established in 1952, the China National Opera operates directly under the Minis- try of Culture and Tourism. It comprises a number of soloists, a choir, a symphony orchestra and a number of work-shops for the creation of scenery, props and of course, a wardrobe where costumes are designed, manufactured and stored. Admittance into the singing and orches- tral ranks of the Company is via the var- ious music and singing conservatories in China. Naturally, the company is home to a vast team of prominent compos- ers, conductors, playwrights and artistic designers. The current president of the Company is the world renowned violinist Liu Yunzhi. The China National Opera's repertoire includes a large selection of the world's best operas, that are regularly present- ed along with the traditional Chinese classical repertoire that includes world renowned works like Farewell My Con- cubine, Dream Forest, The White Haired Girl amongst many others. The China National Opera regularly participates in various international ex- changes and has presented a huge num- ber of spectacles in most of the world's famous opera houses. The local opera aficionados are bound to be enthralled by this extraordinary pro- duction direct from Beijing which stars the world renowned soprano Yao Hong, and the tenor Li Shuang. The orchestra is conducted by the famous Yuan Ding. China National opera production of Puccini's Turandot at MCC