The opera Thais features spectacular sets of symbolic elements, such as the statue of the Roman goddess Venus. [Photo provided to China Daily]

But in recent years, the work has seen a revival with many major opera houses including it in their repertoire once again.

"It is hard to imagine an opera that is more in line with the times, with its hunger for luxury, striving for beauty and longing for eternal youth on the one hand, and its religious asceticism and fanaticism on the other hand," Cuccia says.

The creative force behind the NCPA's version of Thais is Argentine director Hugo de Ana, who is also the set and costume designer.

Known for his spectacular sets and a regular guest at the world's most prestigious opera houses, De Ana has previously directed NCPA's other productions such as Giuseppe Verdi's opera Macbeth and Antonin Dvorak's opera Rusalka.

He uses symbolic elements such as the statue of the Roman goddess Venus with a broken face, a crown hanging in the air and a sloping section of stage made up of broken pieces of wood.

"The opera follows the monk's journey. So we use multimedia to show the moving scenery," says the director. "For the audience, watching the opera is also like experiencing a journey (both) about the salvation of the soul and earthly lust."

De Ana says the music of the opera is "extraordinarily beautiful, whether depicting religious austerity or the inner struggles of the characters".

Among the scores, Meditation for solo violin and orchestra is the most famous piece, which is also often performed by individual musicians at concerts.