A three-day celebration with Peking Opera, "Chinese Highlights" involving singers and dancers, and a light show will kick off the third Shanghai International Festival of Arts that opens on November 1 and runs through December 1.
Officials of the Center for the Shanghai International Festival of Arts said opening night will feature the Peking opera, "China Guifei" (Imperial Concubine), that will bring together some of the best performers in the "Mei" School from around the world.
On the second night, vocalists, instrumentalists and dancers will be featured in the Chinese Highlights gala performance.
A light show will illuminate Dianshan Lake in Qingpu District on the third night.
Chen Shenglai, president of the center, which was established last year to organize the annual festival, said the month-long celebration will include ballets, operas, concerts, dramas, magic shows, acrobatics, circus acts and multimedia shows staged by performers from more than 20 countries.
Already set for the festival are the Russian State Model Theater's "Swan Lake," "Romeo and Juliet" by the Rhine Ballet and Opera of Germany, "Dance of Life" by the Swiss Bejart Ballet and a concert by France's Toulouse Capital Orchestra.
Along with the stage performances, the Art Expo and state-level Arts and Crafts Exhibition will be running during the festival.
"The state arts festival's goal is to be considered among the top 10 inter-national arts festivals within five years," said Gong Xueping, deputy secretary of the Chinese Communist Party's Shanghai branch. To reach that goal, the International Youth Piano and the Inter-national Magic competitions were established this year, Gong told Shanghai Daily.
(Eastday.com 06/27/2001)
