The 9th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival got off to a somber start at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, with a Baroque concert by French ensemble, Le Poeme Harmonique. Even the stage was given a Baroque flavor with a 7th-century oil painting providing the backdrop to the concert.

A special feature of the concert was a "lute", an ancient Greek instrument shaped like a guitar. At a press conference before the concert, ensemble founder Vincent Dumestre demonstrated its use and said it dated back more than 2,700 years.

The festival will run through May, with concerts, performances, exhibitions, lectures and outdoor activities. This year's highlights are lectures and workshops in small theaters and cafes downtown.

The One Way Street Library in Dawanglu, Chaoyang district, will see singer Zhu Zheqin and scholar Wang Xiaofeng talk about New Age music on May 30.

The TAO Body Workshop promises to help people know themselves - Nine Theater in Chaoyang district has already hosted the dance "Talk to Your Body" and Edward Lim's Hong Kong troupe will teach you "Ways to Express Your Lusts" through theater tomorrow.

Zhang Yu of the China Arts and Entrainment Group, organizers of the festival, says more than 30,000 tickets valued at 5 million yuan ($730,000) will be sent to students, retired and disabled people. Most of the vents will be held in open areas, to encourage people to participate. Also, all the forums and lectures are open to the public for free, though prior appointments are needed.

(China Daily, May 5, 2009)