The egg-shaped futuristic National Center for the Performing Arts of China was officially opened Saturday evening with senior Communist Party leader Li Changchun and other officials at present at the inaugural concert.

A group of prestigious Chinese artists gathered at the center, formerly known as the National Grand Theater, for the concert given by the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

Li Yundi, a promising Chinese pianist who won the top prize of the Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition at the age of 18, gave his unique performance of Maurice Ravel's "Piano concerto in G major" at the concert.

The quartet by Lv Siqing, Huang Bin, Huang Mengla and Ning Feng, four Paganini International Violin Competition winners attracted thundering applauses.

A 200-member chorus impressed the audience with their performance of the famous Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower."

The opening p...

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