A concert was held at the National Opera of China in Beijing on July 6, marking the company’s 70th anniversary as well as the launch of its season of the company’s new theater.

Leading Chinese singers, including sopranos Yao Hong and Lei Jia, and Chinese musicians, including violinist Liu Yunzhi, who is also president of the National Opera of China, performed famous arias from Chinese and Western operas .

Chinese conductors, including 93-year-old Zheng Xiaoying, performed with the National Opera of China’s symphony orchestra, choir and soloists at the opening concert.

Founded in 1952, the China National Opera House is holding a series of performances starting July 6. The company has produced over 100 operas to date and has toured all over the world. During this month-long event, original Western and Chinese classical operas, as well as concerts, will be presented, showcasing the company’s history and achievements over the past 70 years.

Construction of the new theater began in 2015. Located in the downtown capital, the new theater has a 15 square meter orchestra pit, approximately 1,000 seats from the first to third floors and 49 boxes in the balcony area from the fourth to the sixth floors. Cultural elements, such as a Chinese phoenix, are widely used in theater design.