At the end of last year, Henan Art Center in Zhengzhou, Henan province, hosted 10 consecutive performances of La Traviata, an opera jointly coproduced by Zhengzhou University's Henan Conservatory of Music and Beijing Poly Theatre Management Co Ltd.

This marked the first Western opera produced in Henan province. From April 30 to May 3, the Henan production of La Traviata will be performed at Beijing's Poly Theatre.

The production features a cast with an average age of under 30, joined by young Chinese opera singers active on the international stage, such as soprano Dai Ziyi and tenor Zhang Long.

Among the cast of over 200 performers, 90 percent are local artists. The Henan Symphony Orchestra provides live accompaniment and the Zaiyu Choir gives choral performances. Many of the orchestra's and the choir's principal members are faculty and students from Zhengzhou University's Henan Conservatory of Music.

According to official statistics, the 10 performances last year attracted nearly 20,000 audience members, with 40 percent coming from outside the province. All performances were streamed online, reaching more than 10 million views.

"Henan has a rich cultural heritage, and we strive to foster a thriving artistic ecosystem through high-quality productions, to contribute to the province's cultural development, provide a platform for young artists, and bring excellent artistic experiences to audiences nationwide," says Dai Yuqiang, dean of the conservatory.

Caption: Beijing to host four performances of the Henan province edition of opera La Traviata from April 30 to May 3.