The Tianjin Grand Theater will entertain local audiences with a wide and varied repertoire in 2018, announced Beijing Poly Theatre Management, which recently took over the theater's management.

Tianjin audiences will enjoy shows of classical music, drama, dance and traditional Chinese opera in the upcoming performance season, says Guo Wenpeng, CEO of the company, which manages 58 theaters in 50 cities around the country.

"The performances will be brought by world-renowned troupes, some of which will make their debut in Tianjin," says Guo.

"We will not only introduce international theater productions to Tianjin but also have local Tianjin artists showcase themselves at the Tianjin theater and across the country."

Under the baton of Raphael Schluesselberg, the Symphonia Vienna New Year's Concert will be staged from Wednesday to Sunday, with a program including Leichte Kavallerie Overture by Franz von Suppe and Aquarellen Waltzer, Op 258 by Josef Strauss.

Tang Muhai, who is also the artistic director of the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, will take up the baton at the concert on Jan 1, in which the National Symphony Orchestra will perform with Chinese-Canadian soprano Zhang Liping and Chinese tenor Shen Yang.

Western orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Hagen Quartet and the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the Tianjin Grand Theater in 2018.

Among the most notable changes after the management transition will be the increasing number of shows of traditional Chinese arts, such as Chinese folk music.

"Tianjin is the hometown of traditional Chinese folk arts, and we have a large fan base here," says Peking Opera artist Meng Guanglu.

Together with a number of Peking Opera artists from Beijing, Meng will perform at the Tianjin theater classic pieces, including Auspicious Dragon and the Phoenix and Yang Silang Visits His Mother.

Beijing Peking Opera Company director Li Zhuoqun and renowned director-actor Guo Baochang will stage a Peking Opera work, titled The Grand Mansion Gate, which is an adaptation of the popular TV series with the same title directed by Guo.

Highlighted dance productions will include The Moon Opera by Tianjin native dancer-choreographer Wang Yabin and Winter of Peacock by renowned Chinese dancer-choreographer Yang Liping.

Western troupes will bring classic dance productions to Tianjin, including Giselle and Don Quixote by Ballet Company of Teatro alla Scala from Italy, and Swan Lake and La Bayadere by the Mariinsky Ballet from Russia.

In terms of theater performances, audiences will see Taiwan director Stan Lai's classic pieces, The Peach Blossom Land and The Village.

Opened in 2012, the Tianjin Grand Theater is not just seen as a place for live entertainment, but also as a scenic tourist destination in its own right. It not only attracts audiences from Tianjin but also from Beijing, which is a 30-minute journey away by high-speed train.

"Tianjin has a history of more than 600 years and is known for its unique culture, cuisine and ports. It's not just about coming to see a show. For people living in nearby cities, it's a short vacation hub as well," says Guo.

(China Daily 12/25/2017 page20)