Sun Xiuwei stars as the title character of Turandot in NCPA's all-Chinese version. (GT)

Rise of filmed operas

The Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London have had success live broadcasting operas into cinemas, on-demand services on the Internet and paid TV stations. NCPA views going digital as another path for Chinese opera films.

Ma also pointed out that star power works well in opera. NCPA's filming of Nabucco features world-famous Spanish tenor Placido Domingo and Un ballo in maschera has Chinese soprano He Hui.

Having worked on opera film for years, Mancini views today's new technologies, like 3D and 4K, help people get excited about opera.

When comparing audiences, the director said that in the West, the opera audience prefers to stick with tradition. "In China and Asia, the audience is younger and has a more open mind," he said.

However, Wen Shuo, culture critic and director of Boao Asia Culture and Media Center, offers a more conservative opinion on the influence of the opera films.

"It is still weird to see Chinese acting in a Western work," Wen said to the Global Times on the phone, adding that he prefers more Chinese stories to be made and introduced outside.

As for domestic appeal, Wen said that while there is an overabundance of entertainment choices for the audience, opera could become a new pastime for Chinese if the release and marketing were well done.

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