Published on Dec 29, 2017

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: February 2-6, 2018

Times: 7:00pm

Venue: Opera House of NCPA

Prices: 100, 280, 380, 550, 600, 680, 880

Features: Following Carmen (Bizet), Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach) and Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens), Thais will be presented at the opera house of NCPA in Beijing from February 2-6 in early 2018.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Following Carmen (Bizet), Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach) and Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens), Thais will be presented at the NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) in early 2018. As another masterpiece created by composer Jules Massenet during the Romantic Period of France in the 19th century, Thais will be included into NCPA's repertoire, which will prelude 2018 NCPA performances for Chinese audiences. Meanwhile, Placido Domingo, director Hugo de Ana and French opera director Patrick Fournier are invited to join the debut of the first Chinese Edition of Thais. The classic will be co-starred by Elmonailah Jager, Darwinia Rodriguez, Mark Ballard, ZHANG Wenwei, Dejan Vachekov, Antonio Poli, LI Yi, JIA Kun, DONG Fang, DUAN Nina, HONG Zhiguang, ZHANG Wenqin and other outstanding singers from at home and abroad.

The opera Thais was adapted by dramatist Louis Calais according to the novel of the same name authored by French writer Anatole France.The novel won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1921. Composed by French composer Jules Massenet, the opera Thais was premiered at Palais Garnier on February 16th, 1894. By telling a story of a young ascetic monk Athanael saving a famous courtesan Thais and then becomes degenerate, the opera reveals inextricable mental and entangled disputes. Numerous elegant arias and ensembles are created by the composer for male and female leading roles. Intermezzo Meditation between the first and second scenes in Act II is often performed individually at concerts. It is not only a longstanding classical violin solo, but also the best-known representative work by Jules Massenet.

Credits

Conductor: Patrick Fournillier
Director/Set Designer/Costume Designer: Hugo de Ana
Lighting Designer: Vinicio Cheli
Projection Designer: Sergio Metalli
Choreographer: Alessandra Panzavolta
Chorus Master: Patrick Aubert

Cast

Thaïs (Soprano): Ermonela Jaho/Davinia Rodriguez
Athanaël (Baritone): Plácido Domingo/Marc Barrard
Nicias (Tenor): Alessandro Liberatore /LI Yi
Palémon (Bass): ZHANG Wenwei/Deyan Vatchkov
Crobyle (Soprano): JIA Kun
Myrtale (Mezzo): DONG Fang

SYNOPSIS
During the fourth century A.D., in Byzantine Egypt, a young ascetic monk Athanael wants to persuade Thais to become a Christian. However, Thais is a peerless beauty of Alexandria. She is a believer in Venus. It is too late when Athanael finds himself deeply obsessed with Thais. Thais, a former courtesan once immersed into hedonism, is influenced by Athanael and keeps the faith. Nevertheless, Athanael, previously, devoted to God, reveals the nature of sin and sinks into carnal desire for Thais with unsurpassed beauty.

Tickets for NCPA Opera Thais are Available now!