Sun Xiuwei stars as the title character of Turandot in NCPA's all-Chinese version. Photos: Courtesy of NCPA

Turandot, a story set in China, was created as an opera by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini and has since been told and retold by many Western artists. China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) has its own original production of the romance, which has been staged seven times since premiering in 2008.

In 2011, NCPA brought its Turandot to Seoul, but now it has bigger ambitions - to introduce the work to the world.

A new film for worldwide release captures this original production, and stars soprano Sun Xiuwei, tenor Dai Yuqiang and basso Tian Haojiang. Filmed last month, its release date has yet to be announced.

Quite the introduction

According to Ma Rongguo, head of NCPA'S art resource center, NCPA has produced 25 operas over the years, and currently they are looking at the mature ones to decide which will be made into opera films.

The main purpose is to "introduce the good works and good artists of China abroad via high-definition DVDs and Blu-rays," Ma told the media in a group interview.

The production of Turandot in the film has an all-Chinese cast, which Ma believes will be a highlight for the opera, as China is the setting of the tale.

Ma said that besides a group of talented singers, NCPA boasts a world-class stage design team. "We are also doing this as an introduction to the NCPA," Ma said. "Every year, we launch tours abroad. We need a product to show them what the stage at NCPA looks like and the production level of NCPA."

"It's harder to grasp that with only words," Ma added.

Italian opera film director Tiziano Mancini and his crew was invited to shoot Turandot. Ma views this, too, as a chance for communication and learning.

"[They] have extensive experience filming operas. That is what we lack," Ma said.

It's not only about capturing the vocal performances, but also using the best shots to convey the story, he continued.

Besides Turandot, two of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi's masterpieces, Nabucco and Un ballo in maschera, have also been made into films by the NCPA.

The release dates for these haven't yet been decided.

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.