CRI听力:Eugene Onegin Kicks off 2014 NCPA Opera Festival

Red and green apples are scattered on the lit-up center stage. Soprano Maria Bayankina, as leading lady Tatyana, walks into the scene in a pure white gown. She serenades a passionate love letter to Eugene Onegin.

At opera Eugene Onegin's dress rehearsal on Thursday, director Alexei Stepanyuk is instructing the actors to finetune their performances. They are polishing every pose, gesture and music number before the show opens in Beijing Friday night.

As the first co-production of the Mariinsky Theater and National Center of Performing Arts (NCPA), Eugene Onegin is the opening act of the NCPA Opera Festival in 2014. From March 14th to March 17th, NCPA will stage two versions of the opera to the audience. One in which Chinese opera singers will play the leading roles while the other features an all-Russian cast.

Chinese soprano Ke Luwa who plays Tatyana says she has gained a deeper understanding of her character from the rehearsals.

"I am honored to work with director Alexei Stepanyuk. He is the most devoted director I have ever met. In order to help us better interpret our characters, the director would explain the character's emotional changes to us. He would also demonstrate certain acts. During the past one and half months, I have developed a thorough understanding of Tatyana."

The Chinese cast's performance certainly earned director Alexei Stepanyuk's recognition:

"I have directed many productions of Eugene Onegin in my career. Each production is a new beginning. This time I work with Chinese opera singers. I know it is quite difficult for them to sing in Russian. But I must say their pronunciations are excellent. They have done a great job. "

With the joint efforts of Chinese and Russian artists, maestro Valery Gergiev, general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, will take the baton. In an earlier interview with NCPA, Gergiev sent his good wishes to the performers in Beijing, hoping the audience will like the new production.

"The new production will bring the wonderful music of Tchaikovsky and also very interesting new ideas. Also young singers will be working together, Russian and Chinese artists. Most importantly we created fantastic cooperation which allows our audience to enjoy both Russian and Chinese music. I hope you will enjoy this wonderful production."

The classic opera is Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky's music adaptation of the titular novel written by Alexander Pushkin. The 3-act opera tells the story of protagonist Eugene Onegin who regrets his rejection of Tatyana's love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend.

For CRI, this is Luo Wen.