China's National Center for the Performing Arts or NCPA is offering some 50 performances of classic operas and concerts for music lovers as part of its annual opera festival now ongoing in Beijing.

Not only inviting international artists, the NCPA is also updating some western works with their own versions. Now let's take a preview of the highlights of NCPA's production of Puccini's "Tosca" and Strauss's "The Bat."

Before it hits the stage of the NCPA from Thursday to Sunday, world renowned tenor Aquiles Machado and German soprano Nicola Beller Carbone revealed some of their interpretation of Tosca to the press.

This NCPA version marks the sixth directorial performance of Italian Director Gian-carlo Del Monaco on "Tosca." For the first time, the ending will be completed by a stunt man of Tosca who will jump from the angel's wing some 5-meter tall above the ground in the dark.

Another compound cast and crew from east and west is also ambitious to give new tones to the classic. For the first time, Johann Strauss Jr.'s light opera "The Bat" will be performed with a mix of dialogue in Chinese Mandarin and arias sung in German.

China's established veteran comedy actor Chen Peisi will enliven the jailer Frosch, a key speaking role of the hilarious operetta, a long staple of New Year's celebration in Austria. Stephen Lawless, a third time director of "The Bat" has honored Chen as the best "jailor" he has ever met.

"The Bat", a regular repertoire ever since its debut in 1874 will be freshened up in Beijing on June 3rd.

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