Chinese opera based on Marco Polo's story to be staged in Italy

A stage photo of Chinese opera "Marco Polo." [Photo: China Plus]

An original Chinese opera based on the story of famous Italian explorer Marco Polo is going to be staged in Italy for the first time in September.

The opera "Marco Polo" will be staged in the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, marking the opening of the theater's 2019-2020 season.

The announcement comes following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the theater and China Arts and Entertainment Group, the opera's producer.

The document has been signed at the second China-Italy Cultural Forum held during President Xi Jinping's ongoing state visit to the southern European country.

The opera presents the adventures of Italian explorer Marco Polo, who traveled along the ancient Silk Road to reach China in the 13th century.

The show will have a focus on the trade and cultural exchanges between the East and West.

"We founded an International Silk Road Theatre Union in 2016 in accordance with the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. After two years' development, there are now 107 members that are units from 37 countries, two thirds of which are from overseas. Two of them are from Italy. One is the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the other is the Teatro La Fenice in Venice," says Li Jinsheng, the chair of the China Arts and Entertainment Group.

Li Jinsheng (R), the chair of the China Arts and Entertainment Group, speaks during an interview with China Radio International. [Photo: China Plus]

Artistic director Giuseppe Acquaviva of the Teatro Carlo Felice says the opera is of great significance in boosting cultural exchanges between China and Italy.

"The Theater of Carlo Felice can provide a good stage for the modern Chinese people to showcase their capability of performing operas well to the Italians. I am very optimistic about the cooperation prospects between us, because the MoU we signed today has been embedded into a much broader one, the BRI MoU. This also indicates that our two countries are looking forward to all-round cooperation. I believe apart from economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges between our two countries will also be expanded," says Acquaviva.

Giuseppe Acquaviva, artistic director of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy. [Photo: China Plus]

"Marco Polo" debuted in Guangzhou and Beijing in May last year.

Chair Li Jinsheng with China Arts and Entertainment says the company will next begin working on the Chinese version of "Turandot," another opera which also tells a story set in China.

"We are very glad to have some Italian composers join us. We plan to stage the premiere of the musical in May, 2020. It will be a good example of in-depth cooperation in art with Italy on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Italy," says Li.

Teatro Carlo Felice is the most important opera house in Genoa, as well as one of the best-known theaters in Italy.

The institution staged the famous opera "Tosca" at the 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival in October last year.