Shanghai Daily News

Dancers perform the acrobatic ballet “Swan Lake” at the Shanghai Grand Theater yesterday to close the monthlong Seventh Shanghai International Arts Festival. Organizers said the event was a huge success. — Shen Kai

The monthlong Seventh Shanghai International Arts Festival came to a close last night with a performance of the acrobatic ballet "Swan Lake" at the Shanghai Grand Theater.

About 200,000 people attended 45 performances during the festival, according to organizers. About 85 percent of tickets for shows during the event were sold.

Some of the most popular shows included concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the ballet "Raymonda" and Yo-Yo Ma's cello concerto - all of which were sold out.

Nineteen exhibitions drew more than 150,000 visitors. The festival also featured several art seminars, musical competitions, an art fair and many other public activities.

Art agents from 35 countries and regions signed 137 deals during the fair, including agreements for 10 Chinese shows to be performed overseas.

"We have already prepared for next year's arts festival by signing around 20 deals with foreign performance agents, including representatives of the San Francisco Ballet Company and the New York City Dance Company," festival President Chen Shenglai said yesterday.