Chinanews, Beijing, September 2 – The first performance season of the National Grand Theatre will be opened in September, 2008. According to Chen Zuohuang, the art director of the theatre, now the programs to celebrate the completion of the National Grand Theatre have been confirmed and more than 60% of them will be local programs.There are 3 halls in the National Grand Theatre. More than 500 shows, including operas, symphonies, dramas, folk music and chamber music, will be played here every year.At present, the National Grand Theatre has signed contracts with several troupes. “In the future, there will be the performance of world-class artists in the theatre,” said Chen. “In the past a few months, many artists have expressed their interest in cooperating with us.”Shanghai Grand Theatre has set a good example for the National Grand Theatre in its ten years of operation. In the future, both theatres will be more “economical”, for they both belong to the people.Chen also promised that New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Royal Ballet of Britain would grace the National Grand Theatre with their presence in its first show season.