The egg-shaped futuristic National Center for the Performing Arts of China was officially opened in Beijing on Saturday.

A group of prestigious Chinese artists gathered at the center, formerly known as the National Grand Theater, for the concert given by the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

Li Yundi, a promising Chinese pianist who won the top prize of the Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition at the age of 18, gave his unique performance of Maurice Ravel's "Piano Concerto In G Major" at the concert.

The quartet by Lu Siqing, Huang Bin, Huang Mengla and Ning Feng, four Paganini International Violin Competition winners, attracted thundering applause.

A 200-member chorus impressed the audience with their performance of the famous Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower."

The opening performance season of the grand theater will last until April 6. About 6,000 Chinese and overseas artists will give 180 performances, including operas such as Othello and ballets like Swan Lake, Jewels and Le Corsaire.

The Mariinsky Theater Opera Company (known until 1991 as the Kirov) from St Petersburg, Russia, will perform Alexander Borodin's "Prince Igor" on Christmas Day. It will be the first foreign art troupe to give a performance at the center.

Among famous names of international performers are Valery Gergiev and Seiji Ozawa, and sopranos Kathleen Battle and Kiri Te Kanawa.

(Shanghai Daily December 24, 2007)