Global performing arts come to cinemas

The 10th National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) International Opera Film Exhibition will run from June 6 to November 30, celebrating a decade of bringing global performing arts to Chinese and international audiences. Organized jointly by the NCPA and China Film Group Corporation, this year’s event features 25 productions from 14 countries, spanning opera, musical theater, dance, drama, documentary, and traditional Chinese opera. The exhibition opens with *Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 80th Anniversary* production, filmed at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, screening on June 6 at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre. Highlights include *Romeo and Juliet* and *The Flying Dutchman* from the NCPA, *The Magic Flute* from the Royal Ballet and Opera, and *The Barber of Seville* from the Metropolitan Opera. Traditional Chinese works such as *The Jewelry Purse*, an 8K Peking Opera film starring Zhang Huoding, and *New Dragon Gate Inn*, a modern Yueju Opera adaptation, are also featured. From June to August, selected titles will screen in over 40 Chinese cities across 100 cinemas, with tickets available through online platforms. Between June and November, the NCPA, Beijing Performing Arts Centre, and Taihu Stage Art Center will host 25 curated screenings and cultural events. From September to November, the exhibition expands to 20 universities, offering free screenings and arts education programs. Since its 2016 launch, the festival has presented over 100 productions in 30 cities, with 4,500 screenings reaching 350,000 attendees. This year’s lineup emphasizes global collaboration, blending international classics with Chinese performing arts traditions. The initiative aims to deepen cultural exchange and nurture new audiences for stage-to-screen productions.