The Guangzhou Opera House, one of the biggest cultural projects in this
southern city, began construction yesterday.
The opera house, which will cover an area of 46,000 square metres, is
expected to go into operation at the end of 2007.
With an estimated investment of 1 billion yuan (US$120 million), the project
is expected to become the biggest performing centre in South China and to be one
of the three biggest theatres in the nation.
At present, the Beijing-based National Theatre and the Shanghai Theatre are
regarded as the two biggest theatres in China.
The Guangzhou opera house will have 1,800 seats and a multifunctional digital
hall with an area of 2,500 square metres.
"The opera house will meet the needs of various performances after its
completion, including large-scale operas, enabling residents in the city to
enjoy fine arts," Lin Shusen, Party secretary of Guangzhou, said yesterday at
the foundation ceremony.
Designed by Zaha Hadid, a renowned international architect, the opera house
will be in line with international standards, says Lin.
Born in Baghdad in 1950, Zaha Hadid set up her own architecture studio in
London and produced a number of renowned design works, including the National
Centre of Contemporary Arts in Rome. She won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in
2004.
Cultural activities
Residents in Guangzhou used to be described as a bit too money-orientated
while showing less interest in non-profit and cultural activities compared with
people in other major Chinese cities.
However, as living standards have become better, the need for cultural life,
especially arts, has also grown.
Hence, the city's planners have set up goals to improve its cultural
atmosphere.
Lin says that Guangzhou also plans to rebuild a number of existing theatres
in the city starting this year, in an effort to enable residents to more
conveniently enjoy arts.
Lin said construction of the new Guangdong Museum, the Guangzhou Children's
Palace and the Guangzhou Library would also be completed within the next five
years.
