Tiny Elaine Paige is about to give two concerts in China and she can't wait. "I love coming here," says the 1.5-m tall singer. "It's the only place I can look people in the eye."

The "First Lady of British Musical Theater" thrilled her fans at the Great Hall of the People when she was last here in 2001. She's back celebrating 40 years in show business with concerts at the Beijing Exhibition Hall Theater tomorrow night and Shanghai Grand Stage on Tuesday.

"You just hosted a great Olympic Games and we watched it at home. I watched the opening ceremony with great admiration," she says.

Her CV reads like a history of musicals from the last 40 years and her concerts will feature many of her biggest hits: Don't Cry For Me Argentina, Memory, I Know Him So Well and As If We Never Said Goodbye.

"I sang Memory as I played Grizabella in the original London production of Cats in 1981 and ever since the song has become my signature. Don't Cry For Me, Argentina is from Evita and is also important. Before I played the role of Eva Peron in 1978, I was on the verge of quitting. It was Evita saved me and changed my life."

Now 60, Paige admits she still has high expectations about China. "Before I toured Beijing in 2001, I was told that Chinese audiences were very reserved but actually they were very responsive. I hope they are the same now."

Paige made her West End debut in Hair at the age of 20 and over the following 10 years played in Jesus Christ Superstar, Nuts, Grease and Billy. In 1978, she was chosen for the role of Eva Peron in the original production of Evita and became a household name overnight. In 1986 her duet I Know Him So Well with Barbara Dickson from Chess, remains the top-selling record by a female duo. In 1996 Paige made her Broadway debut in the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Paige has recorded 20 solo albums, four going platinum (300,000). Last year, Paige returned to the West End for The Drowsy Chaperone and enjoyed fantastic reviews.

Date: 7:30 pm, Dec. 14 night

Venue: 135 Xizhimen Waidajie Street, Xicheng district Beijing

Booking: 6554-1771, 6554-1616

(China Daily December 13, 2008)