Setting sights on tomorrow

It will culminate in a concert at Beijing Performing Arts Centre on March 11, where the participants will give a demonstration of their progress by performing a selection of excerpts from both Chinese and international operas.

"Over my two-decade career, I have performed in over 500 operas both at home and abroad," says Guan. "Based on my experience, I know how crucial it is for emerging artists to gain knowledge of vocal technique, stage presence, and musical interpretation. More importantly, they need to learn about more than just the music to prepare them for success on the international stage."

A 2006 graduate of Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music, Guan worked with the China National Opera House before joining the NCPA in 2013. He has performed in several NCPA productions, including Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Verdi's Rigoletto, and Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Guan emphasizes that the heart of the training program is its commitment to providing an immersive educational experience that blends the traditional aspects of opera with modern interpretive techniques.

"The program's goal is not only to improve vocal techniques but also to deepen their understanding of opera as an art form. It helps their transition from talented vocalists to fully rounded performers," says Lyu Jia, the NCPA's artistic director of music. Lyu is also music director and principal conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra, who performed with the orchestra in 2008 during the NCPA's first opera, Puccini's Turandot. "Opera singers have long-lasting careers. As they grow older, they develop increased vocal range, and often, emotional maturity. There are many great singers who are still at their peak in their 60s and 70s," he adds.