The landmark of the Olympic City, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), impresses everyone with its massive scale.

Located at the west side of Tian'an men Square and nested on a 40,000 square meter artificial lake, the NCPA contains four distinctive and stand-alone auditoria – an opera house, a concert hall, a theatre and an experimental theatre which is under construction.

Since the curtains parted on its debut, the unique architecture and art performance have attracted the world's attention, leaving an indelible impact on culture both within and outside of China.

The Olympic Games, a world celebration, is fast approaching. Billions of people will focus on Beijing in August and witness the global classic sport festival. Following the concept of "People's Olympics", the NCPA, as the state level performance art center, planned the Olympic Performance Season to highlight rich culture connotation of modern Olympics. The NCPA will showcase the national culture and serve as a platform for international cultural communication thus deepening friendship and understanding through cultural and art exchange.

The current Performance season will last for five months - from April 15, 2008 to September 21, 2008 with 135 plays and 279 art performances in 160 days, presenting a cultural festival that encompasses 480,000 people. 48% are international shows, including

? Ballets by Ballet de L'Opera National de Paris and the Royal Ballet

? Aida by Cairo Opera House

? Concert by Anne-Sophie Mutter and Trondheim Soloists

? The King's Singers Concert and

? Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, etc

The remaining 52% of the shows are domestic, including

? The 1st Spring Symphony in China

? Dynasty 1900 by National Theatre Company of China

? Shi Wu Guan （Fifteen Strings of Coins）by Shanghai Kunju Opera and

? Butterfly Lovers by Hangzhou Yueju Opera Troupe,etc

More than 200 art educational events will be organized during the season to provide opportunities for 100,000 people to communicate with artists and get to know art.

I. Art Performances for Colorful Olympics

Various shows will be around the Olympic Games to cheer for China and the Olympics, and express our common aspiration - "One World One Dream".

For The Olympic Games

Two specially designed concerts will be on stage during the Games. They are World Tenors Concert by five world famous tenors on August 6, 2008 and "Piano Night in China" themed around Beijing Olympic Games by 10 world famous pianists, including Lang Lang, on August 19.

Traditional Chinese Art

?The season will also be the time for traditional Chinese art. Peking Opera, Kun Opera and local operas and plays will be on the stage, such as Quelling The White Bone Demon (San Da Bai Gu Jing) and Long Tan Bao Luo of Peking Opera, Gongsun Zidu and Shi Wu Guan (Fifteen Strings of Coins) of Kun Opera, Jin Zi of Chuan Opera, Mei Ren Jiao of Huangmei Opera and Butterfly Lovers of Yue Opera.

These shows will demonstrate the flourishing art culture in China and facilitate the integration and exchange between the traditional Chinese art and world classic art. While promoting national culture, the shows will also help create harmonious and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Chinese Brand

"Made in China" will be one of the highlights. Turandot and Madame Butterfly created by Giacomo Puccini will be adapted as the NCPA versions for the current season. The two adaptations with oriental themes are the tribute paid to the artist and art on the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Puccini.

"The 1st Spring Symphony in China" has attracted attention from professionals and the market. Of the 42 orchestras nationwide, 29 will perform in the National Centre for the Performing Arts. There will be a Chinese masterpiece in each concert. From April 28 to June 15, there will be various concerts, open rehearsals, lectures and chamber music performances.

(China.org.cn June 4, 2008)