Russian troupe in China spotlight

On Saturday, the National Centre for the Performing Arts brought the third installment of its "Second Stage" series to audiences across China. The concert by Russia's Alexandrov Ensemble was broadcast live in 4K ultra-high definition to more than 30 theaters and nearly 100 cinemas nationwide including Beijing, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Xizang autonomous region and Hainan province.

The initiative once again blended stage artistry with cutting-edge technology, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The ensemble staged six concerts at the NCPA from Thursday to Sunday.

Founded in 1928 by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, the composer of the former Soviet Union's national anthem and a conductor, the ensemble is recognized as one of the oldest and largest, and the most prestigious military song and dance troupes in Russia.

Under the baton of Gennady Ksenafontovich Sachenyuk, who is the managing director and artistic director of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the group performed a sweeping program of 30 songs, including Soldiers Are Marching Forward, In the Forest Near the Frontline and Night in the Suburb of Moscow, as well as classic Chinese songs, such as I Am a Soldier, Song of the Guerrillas, and I Love You, China.

Through the NCPA's in-house ultra-HD live production system, the concert was broadcast nationwide, allowing tens of thousands to share the experience of being in the hall itself.

Since its official launch in early April, the "Second Stage" initiative has marked a new chapter in public cultural enrichment in the country, using technology to access the performing arts.

"From April's livestream of the Chinese drama Lin Zexu, to the opera The Marriage of Figaro in July, and now the Alexandrov Ensemble concert, our goal is to offer audiences nationwide a diverse artistic experience," says the NCPA's vice-president Ma Rongguo.

"This initiative will continue to expand to new genres — from musicals to dance theater — and extend beyond China, sharing our performances with the world."