China's futuristic National Grand Theater registered a revenue of 3.5 million yuan (about US$437,500) during it's test show period from September 25 to October 13.

The revenue came from 23 performances of seven operas, dramas and ballets staged during the test show including China's classic ballet The Red Detachment of Women, the drama Teahouse, the ballet Swan Lake and the opera Sister Jiang, according to the Beijing Times newspaper.

These test performances were not public and mainly opened to people like migrant workers and residents relocated to make way for the egg-shaped structure.

Ren said: "The purpose of the test show is to express the appreciation to the builders and supporters for the theater's construction and to test the operation of the new hall."

After watching the first test show of China's classic ballet The Red Detachment of Women on September 25, Li Guiyou, a worker in a Beijing city construction company, said: "I believe more ordinary citizens like me can enjoy excellent performances after this theater is completed." Li worked with his colleagues for more than two years on the theater's construction.

The National Grand Theater, a new signature building in Beijing, is to the west of Tian'anmen Square, boasting three large halls - a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater.

The theater, which is covered with titanium panels and surrounded by water and greenery, is expected to become China's top arts performance center.

Zhao Ruheng, the head of the Central Ballet Troupe, said: "My first impression of the theater is 'huge', not only the theater itself, but also the stage, so the ballet dancer has to act more professionally on it."

The designer of the hall, French architect Paul Andreu came to the theater himself on the first test show day. He said: "I think the building is perfect, but I will make some changes in details.

"The hall is like a great 'baby' of mine and it is one of my favorite works. As her 'father' I felt excited when the image of it in my mind turned out to be a true one, and my Chinese colleagues also contributed a lot to the perfection of the building."

According to the theater, formal performances will start in late December this year.

More details of revenue and an evaluation of the new hall's operation, will be revealed at a news conference in two or three weeks time, said Ren Yixuan, an official with the public relation department of the theater.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2007)