"We are striving to offer audiences more fresh performances this year," said Chen Shenglai, president of the festival centre.

"Thus, we spared no efforts when inviting theatre troupes, both domestic and abroad."

Chen said four criteria - the programme must be a classical work that has endured, it must be world-renowned, it must be rich in national identity, and it must be considered a breakthrough performance in its category - determine whether a performance is invited to the festival.

Art troupes from more than 20 countries and regions will attend this year's month-long festival. The festival opens today.

A Sino-Italian opera "La Boheme" will be performed during opening ceremonies.

Puccini's "La Boheme," a sad love story is regarded as a milestone in opera, said Zhang Guoyong, director of the Shanghai Opera House.

"The co-operation between opera groups in Italy and China is new," Chen said.

"Celebrated Chinese baritone Liao Changyong will join Italian artists in this grand-opening performance, conducted by Zhang Guoyong," Chen added.

Also, "Chlitina's Paris Show," a song-and-dance extravaganza highlighted by fireworks and various special effects will also be performed at the festival. The performance is similar to the blockbuster movie "Moulin Rouge."

The Cape Town City Ballet, one of the best troupes in South Africa, will stage its version of "Firebird." Shanghai is the first stop of the troupe's world tour.

"'Firebird' goes beyond the boundaries of traditional ballet and African primitive dances," said Wei Zhi, centre vice-president.

"Its tribal dances, primitive jungle scene, unique tribal drum music and exaggerated costumes showcase the ballet company's intense consciousness of Africa," Wei added.

Several new productions - such as the Sichuan opera "Good Woman and Bad Woman," written by Wei Minglun; Yongju Opera's "Wife on Loan," about women in feudal society; Yueju Opera's "Seeking Love," by Xiao Ya Art Studio; and Farce's "Fang Qing Has A Date" - will be performed at the festival.

"We will for the first time include an international mime series, with many top-notch artists from Europe - including France, Germany and Romania - and from Asia," Wei said.

The festival will also highlight culture from several regions.

The ballet Folkorico Nacional de Chile, considered the best representative of Latin America dance, will also perform, Wei said.

"The dance drama 'A Remote Town,' adapted from the book by renowned writer Shen Congwen, illustrates the regional culture of Xiangxi (the western part of Hunan Province)," Wei added.

"Bamboo Dream," choreographed by Lin Hwai-min of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, will be performed.

"Apart from Lin's poetic production and the quality dancers, the audiences' acceptance of such art works encourage us to invite such dance troupes," Chen said.

(China Daily November 1, 2002)