NCPA's operetta features musicians from home and abroad

Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) by the National Centre for the Performing Arts was staged in Beijing on Oct 19, 20, and 21.

The operetta has enjoyed extraordinary international success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna.

The charming and uplifting comedy centers on the relationship between the wealthy young widow Hanna and Count Danilo. As this delightful tale of a woman's quest for love unfolds, their romance is hampered by mishap, intrigue and comedic misadventure.

Featuring Hugo de Ana as director, set designer and costume designer, the NCPA production of The Merry Widow has musicians from home and abroad playing leading roles, including sopranos Tanya Kuhn and Song Yuanming playing the role of Hanna, and baritone singers Thomas Weinhappel and Zhou Zhengzhong as Count Danilo.

The production also features young Chinese tenor Cai Chengyu playing the role of Camille de Rosillon, the ardent young French man in love with Valencienne — the young and lovely wife of the elderly ambassador Baron Zeta.

"For the first time, I play in an operetta. It's challenging in particular because besides singing, I also need to dance," says Cai.

"It took me a long time of practicing and rehearsing to memorize all the movements onstage," says Cai, adding that for the audience, it's a visual fest to enjoy the operetta.

The young tenor has gained a large fan base after appearing in Super Vocal, a talent show in China produced by Hunan Satellite TV for classically trained singers.

This year, he released a new single, titled Amore Mio, Dormi Bene, which draws inspiration from Schubert's Lullaby.

Though Cai has launched a career as a soloist, he says that he still hopes to perform in operas and musicals, hoping to attract more young fans to the art genres.