A special concert to spread the message of environmental protection drew a huge audience in Beijing this week.

The Norwegian Embassy, China's State Environmental Protection Administration and the World Bank jointly sponsored the gala tribute to the natural world.

A group of Chinese artists perform a short version of "An Enemy of the People" by the great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in the first half of the show.

This play tells the story of a doctor who's trying to warn everyone about the pollution in his city.

He fights hard to tell everyone the water drainage system is threatening everyone in the city.

But real estate developers trying to hide the truth victimize the doctor and call him an enemy of the people.

Jia Lizhu is the director of the play.

"More or less, everyone is aware of environmental protection. But not everyone can turn their ideas into real action. The core of drama is to reach people's hearts. The solution to environment protection is to raise people's awareness."

The orchestra provided soundtrack to the play now takes center stage.

A Chinese and an American pianist play the famous Chinese concerto "Yellow River", while a film about the environment played on a big screen on stage. The film portrays the cycle of nature - from creation and beauty, to destruction and disaster, to restoration and healing.

Ola Breidal from the Norwegian Embassy says multimedia performances appeal to people's ears and eyes.

"We think it's a good combination, because the drama is very direct. It stresses the environmental issue in a very special and very direct way."

The audience clearly agreed with his ideas.

"The music was great! I didn't understand the Chinese in the play, but I understood the gist of what was being said. But the music was fantastic! I like the video, I am not sure who compiled it, but it was gorgeous and I was impressed it was all from China. It was beautiful."

One Chinese man in the audience offered the only critique of the night: the show would have been more successful if the subtitles on the side screens had been more accurate.

"The visual and musical impact was impressive, but the English subtitles didn't match what the actors said on the stage, so the foreigners wouldn't have been able to understand it. It' a pity." 
 
(CRI.cn March 31, 2007)