It's a cultural feast like no other. The 10th anniversary of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, from October 18 to November 18, promises to be a grand affair, with classical musicians and artistes from across the world ready to perform.

The month-long festival will see more than 50 stage performances and will revolve around the theme "Arts: an anthem of the city, a feast of life." The festival has been divided into six categories: stage performances, public activities, festival within festival, performing arts fair, forum and symposium, and expo and exhibition series.

Stage performances, which are always a favorite with the audience, will have 26 Chinese programs and 26 foreign ones. These include concerts, dances, musicals, dramas and operas. Local opera groups will also add color.

The curtains go up with "Peony Pavilion," a Chinese dance drama adapted from the works of Tang Xianzu, a Chinese playwright of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The dance drama will have elements of modern choreography. The festival will conclude with a concert by the 120-year-old St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra on November 18.

Highlights include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam and the Argentinean Tango Company.

(Shanghai Daily September 2, 2008)