BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Spanish tenor Placido Domingo has said that China will see a boom in its classical music market.

"China has a huge audience base," Domingo said in a recent interview. He is starring in a Chinese production of the opera "Thais" that will debut at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing on Friday.

"I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the Chinese audiences when I performed in China for the first time 30 years ago," Domingo said. "Millions of audience members in such a center where numerous excellent works are performed will be bound to contribute to a boom in classical music in China."

Thais is a three-act opera composed by Jules Massenet. It tells the story of a young monk, Athanael, who attempts to save the courtesan Thais from hedonism, while the monk becomes degenerate and sinks into carnal desire for Thais.

Domingo, who will perform the role of Athanael, has forged a bond with the NCPA since 2012, when the 20th Placido Domingo's Operalia: The World Opera Competition was held there.

In the following years, Chinese audiences have seen Domingo perform at the NCPA in the operas "Nabucco," "Simon Boccanegra," and "Macbeth."

Over the past decade, the NCPA has presented a total of 58 Chinese and foreign operas, including "Carmen," "Les Contes d'Hoffman," and "Samson et Dalila."