Bittersweet symphony

"It's a pity," says Yang Hong, a teacher in her 30's who accompanied her father to buy tickets for a Peking opera play but left empty-handed. "Next time, I will check the information online and try to book tickets in advance."

More than 50 people camped outside the box-office all night to get tickets of the concert on January 1.

If this year's program is any indication, things will be just as hectic inside the theater as they are outside.

Dancers from the Kirov Ballet, from Russia, perform Swan Lake.

Following Valery Gergiev conducting his Mariinsky Theater in Prince Igor, Kirov Ballet will perform Swan Lake, Jewels and Le Corsaire till January 6.

But to get things started, Seiji Ozawa took the baton of the National Symphony Orchestra of China for concerts on December 31 and January 1, featuring brilliant pianist Lang Lang, Russian pianist Vadim Repin, American soprano Kathleen Battle and Chinese organist Shen Fanxiu.

"I was born in China, so it's special for me to perform the first New Year's concert at NCPA," the 72-year-old Ozawa says.

"Actually I came here two years ago to see the progress of the building and discuss the concert.

"This is amazing architecture. I know Chinese make big things, such as the Great Wall. But this is really beyond my imagination and I have never seen such a big organ."

Chen Zuohuang, music director of the NCPA, hailed the New Year's concerts, which featured musicians from Japan, Russia, the United States and China.