The true face of the Chinese National Grand Theater was unveiled
in Beijing on Monday when the protection film of the last 30
titanium boards was peeled off.
The controversial construction is nearly completed - the
interior will be finished by the end of this year. Designed by the
French architect Paul Andreu, work began in December 2001 after
four years of deliberation among the country's policy makers.
Located in the heart of Beijing, near Tiananmen Square, the
theater is a modern-style building which stands out from its
surroundings.
"The major construction of the theater was covered with nearly
20,000 of titanium boards," said Wang Zhengming, who is in charge
of the construction project. "It takes us half a month to peel off
the protection film of such a large construction."
Shaped like a tear drop, the silver theater has sparked debate
among domestic experts on whether such an modern design was
appropriate for the center of Beijing. However, it was listed among
the top ten architectural miracles by the U.S.-based Journal
Business Week for its energy-saving and environmentally friendly
design.
The imposing building, occupying an area of some 149,500 square
meters, comprises three gigantic halls, including a 2,416-seat
opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat
theater.
"We have not yet decided who will be in charge of the daily
operation of this national theater," Chinese Minister of Culture
Sun Jiazheng told Xinhua. Many foreign troupes are eager to win the
first performance contract with the theater.
With an investment totaling 2.69 billion yuan (about 336 million
U.S. dollars) and covering a construction area of 200,000 square
meters, the theater is the biggest cultural project during China's
Tenth Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005).
"Therefore, we should select first-class troupes and
state-of-art performances that can match the construction," Sun
said, adding China is now open to all good artistic products
showcasing diverse cultures.
During its construction, Wang noted, the National Grand Theater
also suffered money shortages due to rising costs of raw materials.
But the construction was never delayed thanks to national support
and cost-saving measures.
He also revealed that the construction is scheduled to be
gradually completed next June.
(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2006)
