Epic 'Aida' revival marks NCPA festival opening night

Giuseppe Verdi's monumental opera Aida returned to the stage of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on April 8, opening the NCPA Opera Festival 2026.

The latest revival, its fourth since the production's debut, brought together an international cast and creative team for an evening of sweeping musical drama and visual spectacle.

Composed in 1871 by Verdi, Aida remains one of the most celebrated works in the operatic canon. Blending the lyricism of Italian opera with the grandeur of French grand opera, the piece is renowned for its majestic scale, exotic setting, and deeply human narrative of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Often hailed as one of the "world's top 10 operas", Aida continues to captivate audiences with its fusion of intimate tragedy and epic storytelling.