The 23rd Shanghai International Arts Festival will open with the original dance drama Azure After the Rain at 7:15 pm on Oct 17 by the Shanghai Dance Theater at the Shanghai Cultural Square. The drama tells of the life and creations of Li Qingzhao (1084-1155), who is widely recognized as the greatest female poet in Chinese history.

The Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow from Russia will also present the ballet Spartacus at the Shanghai Grand Theatre from Oct 17 to 19.

Over the next month, nearly 5,000 artists from over 80 countries and regions will participate in the festival. With over 300 events and close to 1,000 shows planned, it aims to establish itself as a cultural platform with originality, brand recognition, and global influence.

The main stage performances will feature 163 shows from 57 productions, with international acts constituting approximately 60 percent of the lineup and over 90 percent of them making their Shanghai debut.

The closing production for the festival will be a concert by the Münchner Philharmoniker from Germany, led by Russian conductor Tugan Sokhiev and featuring Chinese pianist Zhang Haochen. It will be staged at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall on Nov 16 and 17.

The festival has attracted 500 professional organizations, including the European Festivals Association, and 2,000 invited guests to Shanghai. Moreover, the festival organizers will sign a 5-year strategic cooperation agreement with the International Society for the Performing Arts.

The 4th Annual Conference of the Network of Silk Road Arts Festivals will also be held on Oct 18 at the New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center.

The festival has established a nationwide cultural service network with Shanghai at the center, with satellite events in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces.

Sources: whb.cn, WeChat account of Shanghai International Arts Festival