China's futuristic National Grand Theater registered a revenue
of 3.5 million yuan (about US$437,500) during it's test show
period from September 25 to October 13.
The revenue came from 23 performances of seven operas, dramas
and ballets staged during the test show including China's classic
ballet The Red Detachment of Women, the drama
Teahouse, the ballet Swan Lake and the opera
Sister Jiang, according to the Beijing Times
newspaper.
These test performances were not public and mainly opened to
people like migrant workers and residents relocated to make way for
the egg-shaped structure.
Ren said: "The purpose of the test show is to express the
appreciation to the builders and supporters for the theater's
construction and to test the operation of the new hall."
After watching the first test show of China's classic ballet
The Red Detachment of Women on September 25, Li Guiyou, a
worker in a Beijing city construction company, said: "I believe
more ordinary citizens like me can enjoy excellent performances
after this theater is completed." Li worked with his colleagues for
more than two years on the theater's construction.
The National Grand Theater, a new signature building in Beijing,
is to the west of Tian'anmen Square, boasting three large halls - a
2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat
theater.
The theater, which is covered with titanium panels and
surrounded by water and greenery, is expected to become China's top
arts performance center.
Zhao Ruheng, the head of the Central Ballet Troupe, said: "My
first impression of the theater is 'huge', not only the theater
itself, but also the stage, so the ballet dancer has to act more
professionally on it."
The designer of the hall, French architect Paul Andreu came to
the theater himself on the first test show day. He said: "I think
the building is perfect, but I will make some changes in
details.
"The hall is like a great 'baby' of mine and it is one of my
favorite works. As her 'father' I felt excited when the image of it
in my mind turned out to be a true one, and my Chinese colleagues
also contributed a lot to the perfection of the building."
According to the theater, formal performances will start in late
December this year.
More details of revenue and an evaluation of the new hall's
operation, will be revealed at a news conference in two or three
weeks time, said Ren Yixuan, an official with the public relation
department of the theater.
(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2007)