The first Beijing International Drama Festival began with a successful opening performance of the opera "Aida" in the Worker's Stadium. 

Various performing arts such as opera, musicals and puppetry as well as China's traditional Peking Opera and Yue Opera will be staged during the two-week festival. Artists from more than 20 countries will bring their world class performances to the capital.

The super grand sight opera "Aida" is staged at the Beijing Workers' Stadium in Beijing Sept. 27, 2003. The opera, having a floor area of stage of over 6,000 square meters and involving more than 4,000 performers, is the largest of its kind in the world.
(People's Daily   September 28, 2003)