Love of song bonds chorus and community

Fifteen years ago, a group of passionate voices came together to found the China NCPA Chorus, with a mission to meet the demand for opera productions by the National Centre for the Performing Arts — an iconic venue in Beijing launched in 2007.

Today, the China NCPA Chorus stands as a beloved pillar of the arts community with its sound resonating far beyond the walls of rehearsal spaces and concert halls.

As the chorus celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, it held a concert at the center on Sunday, reflecting on a journey that has been defined by growth, collaboration and a shared love of song.

The event featured performances conducted by distinguished maestros Lyu Jia, Wu Lingfen and Zheng Jian, all of whom have had close collaborations with the chorus over the years, along with the chorus' resident conductor, Jiao Miao. Together, they presented a selection of the chorus' finest works accumulated over the past 15 years, including the choral cycle Reverberant Melodies in Memory by composer Zou Ye and lyricist Zou Jingzhi, the song On a Great Journey in Unison by composer Yin Qing and lyricist Zhao Daming, and the aria Fuoco Di Gioia from Verdi's opera Otello.

Before the concert, a celebratory event was held at the NCPA concert hall where the chorus recognized and honored the exceptional contributions of its members throughout its 15-year journey.