Composed by Italian musician Verdi Giuseppe, a grand stage opera of Aida is to open the Beijing International Drama Season during the National Day holiday. Artists from Italy, Poland, China and some other countries are co-operating to realize this opera, which is the world's largest-scale production for 132 years. About 4,000 actors and some beasts will participate in the chapter, Victory, presenting the audience with an unforgettable scene. 

The Irish phenomenon River Dance has broken box office records around the world with its equine-like toe-tappers. The dancers will be making their presence felt on stage in Beijing at the Great Hall of People from October 9 to 14. The tour was originally scheduled to take place earlier this year, but SARS paid to those plans. Organizers say the choreography blends tap forms from Broadway to Harlem, via Dublin.

And the homeland of classic ballet, Russia, will send its National Classic Ballet Circuit to Beijing to perform masterpieces like Swan Lake and Gisele from October 1 to 3.

A famous Chinese comedian, Chen Peisi, is going to give a stage comedy, "Easy Bill-making-out between Relatives and Friends". Cross talkers Jiang Kun and the Father-and-son duo of Yang Shaohua and Yang Yi are sure to put audience in stitches too.

What's more, a drama by the National Art Theater, Myriad Twinkling Lights of the City and Orphan of the Zhao Family will add more color to this golden week of performance.

(CCTV.com September 29, 2003)