NCPA's happy birthday

The National Center for the Performing Arts, also nicknamed as the Egg, has become a feature of the Beijing skyline. But when the venue first opened two years ago, many questioned whether the theater, costing 3-billion yuan to build, could make ends meet. Could it pull in big enough audiences to pay its way? In today's "Spotlight", we take a look at the theater's history and what the future may hold.

The National Center for the Performing Arts has hosted many shows lately. Be they opera, ballet, or classical music concerts, one thing's for sure - they've all been big sellers. Over the past two years, attendances have averaged 82 percent, which is nearly twenty percent higher than at most other classical music venues in the capital. The giant egg earns an impressive annual box office return of more than 300 million yuan. That's nearly half of the total income for all performances in Beijing every year.

Over the past two years, the National Center for the Performing Arts has gained experience and become an arena for artists from both home and abroad to show off their musical virtuosity. Quite a few maestros, such as Seiji Ozawa and Claudio Abbado, have graced its stage, together with world-renowned orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mariinsky Theater from Russia, and noted musicians such as Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lang Lang.

The National Center for the Performing Arts doesn't just cater for classical music fans. There are also performances of traditional Chinese operas, folk music shows and dramas.

Guo Yuliang, party dep. sec. NCPA, said, "This is the national theater, so our foremost task is to promote our own art and culture. There are classical music and ballet performances of course, but we are also dedicated to hosting a large portion of traditional operas and ethnic stage performances."

It is never easy for a theater to be fully recognized by the public, whether it's the Sydney Opera House, completed in the 1970s, or the Vienna State Opera with a history back to the mid-19th century. Many artists say it is the performances that count.

Wang Luoyong, artist, said, "It is one-sided to say the national theater is important because it stands close to Tian'anmen Square. We've all seen over the past two years that the national theater has embraced quite a number of international art troupes and musicians. I'd say we have an international artistic center for performances in China, and it does link to the world over."

Lang Lang, pianist, said, "The National Center for the Performing Arts provides a more spacious platform for artists and music lovers to communicate. It's like a solid base, where you can find similar people to exchange ideas. It feels really cool."

Tuesday marks the second birthday of the giant egg. Music lovers and culture vultures from near and far are invited to visit the center, free of charge. Although there's still a long way to go for the national theater, artists and critics believe that their tireless efforts will help the giant egg to achieve the recognition it deserves.