Xi'an venues to host star-studded events

More than 800 performances will be staged at four major theaters in Xi'an, Shaanxi province: Shaanxi Opera House, the Xi'an Concert Hall, the Kaiyuan Theater and Core Space, throughout the year.

The schedule was announced by event organizers at Shaanxi Opera House on Sunday.

Highlights include Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical hit Phantom of the Opera, which will make its debut in Xi'an with eight shows running from Aug 13 to 18.

Dances drama, such as The Eternal Wave, a popular Chinese work choreographed by Zhou Liya and Han Zhen, Li Bai by the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, and Princess Zhaojun also by the company, will be staged.

The 15-year-old Xi'an Concert Hall will host international musicians, including Andris Nelsons and the Vienna Philharmonic, violinist Pinchas Zukerman and pianist Martha Argeric.

The Xi'an Symphony Orchestra will perform under the baton of conductors Lin Daye and Dane Lam, as well as playing with soloists, such as violinist Augustin Dumay, violist Mei Diyang and cellist Nie Jiapeng.

A new work combining classical music, choral singing and poem reciting, which highlights the ancient Chinese poems will be premiered by Xi'an Symphony Orchestra on March 23. The concert is named after Tao Te Ching, the foundational work of Taoism by Lao Tzu.

Tickets will be competitively priced to attract more people to theaters, according to event organizers.