What they say about NCPA

Everybody in the world has been impressed by China's economic development ... It means China should have the largest culture consuming market. NCPA is a bridge between China's culture market and the foreign companies, such as the Royal Opera.

I know NCPA is running the "Young Composers Project" and the Royal Opera has a similar program to discover and support young artists. So I hope to collaborate with NCPA on such educational and outreach programs aside from touring performances here.

Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House

Before I came to NCPA, I was not sure whether Chinese audiences would appreciate the old Shakespeare story. But from their response I realized that the spirit of drama is universal. They understand Shakespeare well and understand what we want to express through the play.

Kevin Spacey, Oscar-winner for best actor, leading London's Old Vic Theatre to perform Richard III in November 2011

I applied for NCPA's Peking Opera summer camp in 2010 and left my hometown Yingkou (Liaoning province) to learn from famous Peking Opera artists in Beijing. It was a lot of fun and I made many friends. Some of us returned to the summer camp in 2011. My mother said she would send me to learn Peking Opera at the middle school attached to Beijing Peking Opera Company.

Yuan Jiayi, 13, who performed the leading role at the NCPA's children's Peking Opera production Red Cliff

China now has world level pianists or violinists but few composers and compositions. NCPA launched the "Young Composers Project" in October 2010 to commission works among composers under age 40. We finally selected eight works from some 100. NCPA also recommended the first prize work to the Philadelphia Orchestra, which performed it at NCPA in May 2012.

Chen Qigang, composer and music director of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

I joined NCPA's club soon after it opened. Though I live in Qinghe, a community in northwest Beijing and far away from NCPA, I keep coming every Saturday. I went to the concert in the morning and attended lectures in the afternoon. I love music and drama but seldom went to the theater before, because the ticket price was expensive. But as a NCPA club member, I can just pay 10 yuan ($1.60) for a weekend concert.

Xu Min, 60, retired worker and NCPA club member

NCPA spends great efforts in education and outreach programs. I once gave a master class there and NCPA invited a blind boy, Lai Jiajun, to play with me. His love for music impressed me and also made me believe that music can really change a person's life.

Lang Lang, pianist

Thanks NCPA for giving me the opportunity to perform here. Not every theater organizes a festival to present performances by arts school students.

Sun Yali, ballet student with Beijing Dance Academy

Modern dance is not a pop genre, but NCPA has the vision to promote it. NCPA is a big comprehensive organization while the modern dance company cares more about individuality. So we have different views on some things. But we made compromises and reached agreement. NCPA gives us a new big platform where we see a new, passionate audience.

Willy Tsao, artistic director of Beijing Dance LDTX

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