[Photo provided to China Daily]

After four years of preparation, Tian and her team decided to focus on the "power of walking".

"Red Army soldiers died during the march, because of the battle and because of such hardships as climbing snow-capped mountains or walking through wetlands," says Tian.

"But unlike Hollywood blockbusters, which often tell stories about one hero, we have a large group of heroes in the Long March."

The Long March is the 11th original opera produced by the NCPA. Tian says telling a Chinese story using a Western art form is always a challenge task for Chinese directors, scriptwriters and composers.

Composer Yin has combined the bel canto with Chinese folk singing.

After two and a half years spent revising the script, Zou portrays the distinctive character of the soldiers in the Long March. The roles are performed by veteran Chinese singers, including Yan Weiwen and Wang Hongwei.

Tian, who is known for being cutting-edge, gives a modern touch to the opera.

For instance, Tian invited Chinese architect Ma Yansong to design the stage using multimedia technology to portray scenery during the march.