2019年CRI Chinese opera based on Marco Polo's story to be staged in Italy

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 memorandum¹ 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 Forum² held during President Xi Jinping's ongoing³ 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.

Artistic⁴ 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 capability⁵ of performing operas well to the Italians. I am very optimistic about the cooperation prospects⁶ between us, because the MoU we signed today has been embedded⁷ 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.

"Marco Polo" debuted⁸ 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.

1 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

7 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

8 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。