- Title: CHINA: THE THREE TENORS GIVE SPECTACULAR CONCERT IN BEIJING'S FORBIDDEN CITY
- Date: 23rd June 2001
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 23, 2001) (REUTERS) WIDE OF ILLUMINATED FORBIDDEN CITY WITH AUDIENCE (0.06) WIDE OF THREE TENORS ON THE STAGE SINGING (0.10) SMV PLACIDO DOMINGO AND JOSE CARRERAS SINGING (0,26) SLV LUCIANO PAVAROTTI SINGING (0.36) SLV THREE TENORS ON STAGE (0.45) VARIOUS, OF AUDIENCE CLAPPING/FACES/CLAPPING (3 SHOTS) (0.58) SLV THREE TENORS ON STAGE AND SINGING
- Embargoed: 8th July 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVA5FG1IJR7NEFM0Z36SEQKJ5ZT5
- Story Text: Beijing's Forbidden City has been the spectacular setting for a concert by the three superstars of the opera world - Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.
The former residence of China's emperors was transformed into a huge stage on Saturday (June 23) for a one-off performance by the Three Tenors.
Coinciding with international Olympic Day, organisers hope that the concert will boost Beijing's chances of staging the 2008 Olympics.
Organisers said that the 30,000 tickets for the concert had sold out, despite public criticism of the price - which ranged from 60 to 2,000 U.S. dollars, out of the reach of most ordinary Chinese.
But millions more did get the chance to watch the concert for free on a live nationwide broadcast.
Organisers said the concert was China's largest ever musical production and in the run-up to Saturday, more than 600 workers worked around the clock to build the stage set, which included two massive carved dragons wrapped in clouds.
Special measures were taken to protect the ancient grounds of the Forbidden City, including a "second skin" to protect the stone floor - 20,000 square metres of special carpeting. China's top creative talents, including film director Zhang Yimou, were drafted in to assist in the staging of the show.
The programme included many favourites of the Three Tenors - ranging from opera standards like Puccini's "Nessun Dorma"
and to the mainstream classics of "My Way", "Moon River", and the favourite of soccer fans worldwide - "You'll Never Walk Alone".
For China's opera lovers, the event was unforgettable.
Student Zhang Mei said: "It was really enjoyable. It was a fabulous combination to have the background of traditional Chinese civilization together with music that represents modern civilization. Today is Olympic Day, I hope this will help with Beijing's Olympic bid," said Zhang.
Internet company employee Zhang Zhi Dong said: "I have listened to these songs for 20 years, but today we got the chance to listen to it live, we were so excited," said Zhang.
Some opera buffs travelled far and wide to ensure they got to witness the concert.
American Barry Massberg flew to Beijing from Hong Kong.
"We came especially for this, it's an event we've been waiting for it for a long time, it's fantastic, well worth the trip."
Another American, Contessa Alicha, travelled all the way from Chicago in the United States.
"For this, the Forbidden City, it's a once in a lifetime event, it's the Three Tenors here!"
While Beijing may be home to its own, very different brand of opera, it was clear from the three encores that the Tenors had won over the audience - and, who knows, maybe even the International Olympic Committee as well.
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