New National Theatre, tokyo

News Archive

2012/8/10

To symbolise the friendship between Japan and China on the anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations, a joint production of the opera "Aida" (concert-version) was presented by the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) and National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). The Beijing performances on Friday 3rd August and Sunday 5th August proved a great success.

The opera theatre in the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing (capacity 2,400) was completely full, and with a scattering of Japanese members in the audience. The curtain call was greeted with deafening applause and bravos. The production was praised for its depth of significance and high level of artistic achievement. Many Chinese media as well as leading Japanese newspapers, news agencies and broadcasters attended the performance to cover and report on it. NHK's "Ohayo Nippon" on NHK and TV Asahi's "ANN News" both provided extensive coverage on 4th August.

Hua Jianmin, a vice chairman of the standing committee of the 11th National People's Congress, Aiping Zhang, Director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations in the Ministry of Culture, and Niwa Uichiro, Japan's Ambassador to China, were among those in attendance from the top ranks of political, bureaucratic and diplomatic circles. They praised the project highly for its significance in raising awareness of the strengthening of friendly relations between Japan and China, and its beneficial role in cultural and artistic development.

The project fostered greater mutual understanding and feelings of affinity between not only Japanese and Chinese soloists, both choirs, staff, and both theatres, but between the Japanese and Chinese people as a whole, and furthered a relationship of trust.

The Beijing performances were preceded by a press conference, with representatives from both theatres, six Japanese and Chinese soloists, conductors and leaders from both choirs and the scenic designer for the Beijing performances. They reported on the success of the performances in Tokyo and declared their objectives for the Beijing performances. It was attended by journalists from about forty media companies and enjoyed extensive media coverage in China especially. In conveying to the Chinese people not only the aims and the purpose of the performances, but also the charisma of the performers, it also set a mood of anticipation.

The curtain calls were greeted with tumultuous applause.

Chinese and Japanese TV broadcasters interviewed the audience during the intermissions.

(from left) Okabe Shuji, NNTT Executive Director; Chen Ping, NCPA President; Niwa Uichiro, Japanese Ambassador to China; Fukuchi Shigeo, NNTT President

(from left) Aiping Zhang, Director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations in the Ministry of Culture; Chen Ping, NCPA President; Fukuchi Shigeo, NNTT President; Yamada Shigeo, Minister at the Embassy of Japan in China

Press conference held on 31st July in Beijing at the National Centre of the Performing Arts. Journalists from more than forty Japanese and Chinese media companies were present.

Having completed two performances in Tokyo and two in Beijing, the cast smile at the camera. They are joined here by the staff from both the Japanese and Chinese theatres.

The National Centre of the Performing Arts is located in the centre of Beijing, next to the Great Hall of the People.

A short movie about NNTT was shown at panel displays placed in the National Centre of the Performing Arts.