RIYADH, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Artists from the China National Opera House (CNOH) performed the classic opera "Carmen" at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh from Thursday to Saturday to celebrate the China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture in 2025.

The performances represented CNOH's inaugural full-scale orchestral opera in Saudi Arabia, involving the collaboration of around 200 theater artists. Over the three days, the event drew an audience of over 7,000 people.

"It's my first opera, but the melodies feel familiar already. The staging is stunning and the orchestra's power is remarkable," said Eyad, a young Saudi in the audience. His friend Abdulaziz echoed, "This sets the bar very high, we look forward to seeing more traditional Chinese culture in Saudi Arabia."

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the 1875 premiere of "Carmen." Since introducing the masterpiece to China in 1982, the CNOH has performed the work more than 300 times, featuring both Chinese and French language versions, according to CNOH's Vice President Wu Zhao.

Presenting "Carmen" to the Saudi audience during the China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture demonstrates "our commitment to fostering dialogue among civilizations," said Wu, adding, "We want to convey at our very best the universal human yearning for freedom and love."

"Chinese artists presenting world classics is a vivid practice of mutual learning among civilizations," said Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua.

"Music and dance transcend language, making connections easier," Chang said, noting that the performance "represents a historic moment" as people-to-people exchanges deepen between the two countries.

According to Jasper Hope, advisor of Opera & Broadway at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in order to enhance the understanding of the performance for the audience, the production utilized Arabic, English, and Chinese surtitles, which were synchronized seamlessly with the orchestra sound and stage changes.

"Over the next three to four years, more opera houses, concert halls, and theaters will come online," Hope revealed, adding, "We look forward to more orchestras, dance companies, and opera productions from China. Riyadh city needs world-class cultural offerings." ■