A newly-produced version of Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Franciulla del West," also known as "The Girl of the West" will hit the Chinese stage from August 20 to 25 at National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA), China News Service reported. The newly-produced version by the NCPA brings together some of the world's top artists, including new generation conductor Andrea Battistoni.

Describing California's gold rush in the mid-19th century, "La Franciulla del West" is considered the only lyrical opera to vividly depict the role of gold miners in the American Midwest.

"Although 'La Franciulla del West' is not the most well-known Puccini work in China, it marks a transformation of Puccini's creative style," said Zhao Tiechun, deputy director of the NCPA at a press conference on Monday.

To fully present Puccini's artistic achievements to the audience, the NCPA will present the opera "La Franciulla del West" on the Chinese stage for the first time, so those opera lovers can fully appreciate the artistic charm of Puccini's opera, Zhao added.

Italian conductor Andrea Battistoni, born in the 1980s, who directed the NCPA version of "La Franciulla del West," has worked with Deutsche Oper Berlin and Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg since he was 19 years old. 

Thaddeus Strasberg, the director of "La Franciulla del West," said that in this version, the style of Western films would be integrated into the opera stage. Also, he was hoping to give full play to the advanced design of the NCPA.

The NCPA version of "La Franciulla del West" will be on stage from August 20 to 25, with both Chinese and English subtitles.