"The folk song is known among the Chinese audience and the story, which is full of dramatic elements, is suitable for an opera production," says Zhao, adding that Lan Huahua is the 12th original Chinese opera produced by the NCPA since the Beijing cultural venue opened in 2007.

Composer Zhang Yiqian and scriptwriter Zhao Daming teamed up for the opera, which brought five major roles and a dozen symphonic songs performed as solo, duo and chorus.

In the opera, the beautiful Lan Huahua is admired by many young men in her village and she falls in love with Luo Tuo, a young horse driver. However, she is forced to marry the local landlord, Lord Zhou, who drives her lover out of the village. While opposing the future marriage, Lan Huahua finds out that she is pregnant with Luo Tuo's child and her father dies of resentment. Zhou turns angry and tries to expel Lan Huahua from the village, too. Though she's saved by a kindhearted orphan, Gan Yang, Lan Huahua dies after giving birth to a daughter.

"The story is simple but the main characters have distinctive personalities. Behind this story, the audience can see the traditional values of the feudal times in China, some of which even exist in contemporary society," says Zhao, who revised the script several times in the past few years.

"There is no good or bad guy in the story. Each of the characters guards the values she or he believes in. For example, Lan Huahua believes in true love and sacrifices her own life to pursue it. Lord Zhou represents power and traditional values during feudal times. He is obsessed with Lan Huahua but when he finds out about her pregnancy, he feels humiliated and decides to take revenge," says Chen.

Composer Zhang wrote the music based on folk music of Northwest China and the song Lan Huahua appears in the opening and closing parts of the opera, which forms the soul of the opera.

"Folk songs from Northwest China are very popular among Chinese audiences because of the simple, easy-to-sing rhythms and storytelling lyrics. The folk song Lan Huahua is timeless," says Zhang, who also integrated elements from traditional Chinese operas into this opera.

Sopranos Zhao Lili and Li Xintong will play the role of Lan Huahua and tenors Guan Zhijin and Yang Yi will play the role of Lord Zhou.

Other team members behind the opera include award-winning set designer Huo Tingxiao, who is known for his collaboration with Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, and costume designer Chen Tongxun.

The China NCPA Chorus and Qingdao Symphony Orchestra will perform under the baton of Zhang Guoyong for the opera.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

7:30 pm, Oct 1-5. NCPA, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.