On the evening of August 15, the newly constructed Shanghai Grand Opera House illuminated its premises for the first time, hosting its inaugural internal stress test performance and welcoming its initial audience. The main entrance at Gate 3 was opened for the first time, with security checks, concierge services, and security personnel operating seamlessly, while new cultural merchandise and coffee shops began trial operations.
The debut internal stress test performance featured a concert version of the opera Rigoletto staged in the Soar Theatre. This production was specifically tailored and re-staged by the Shanghai Opera House to test the venue's capabilities. The 1,200-seat Soar Theatre was filled to capacity for the first time. Leveraging the acoustic conditions of the hall, the performance adopted a concert format, utilizing the venue's roofless modular tower-style sound reflector to deliver natural instrumental tones and the authentic texture of live orchestral performance.
The Shanghai Grand Opera House was bustling with activity on this day, with nearly all attendees visiting the venue for the first time. Many arrived early to take photos and express their excitement. According to reports, the opera house will launch 10 comprehensive stress tests from August 15 to September 28, with 1 to 2 test performances scheduled weekly, covering the Red Theatre, Soar Theatre, and Mirror Theatre. This marks a critical phase in transitioning the Grand Opera House from construction to operational readiness before its official opening.
Rigoletto Tests Soar Theatre's Operational Capabilities
The Soar Theatre, the first performance space to undergo internal testing, features a classic horseshoe-shaped layout and a "six-grid" stage system. The stage spans approximately 2,400 square meters and accommodates 1,200 seats, with a future focus on premiering diverse art forms such as local original operas, dramas, dance, and traditional Chinese opera. The evening's performance of Rigoletto was "custom-made" for the Soar Theatre's test, with all actors, orchestra, and chorus on stage to allow both the audience and performers to experience the hall's acoustic effects.
The evening's conductor, Zhang Chengjie, a permanent conductor of the Shanghai Opera House, praised the acoustic quality before the performance. "After two days of rehearsals and testing, our expectations have been confirmed. The acoustics feel very comfortable," he said. Yu Haolei, head of the Shanghai Opera House's Opera Troupe and performer of the Duke in Rigoletto, added, "The sound effects at the Shanghai Grand Opera House are world-class. Having such a new, exceptional venue is a blessing for opera singers. As opera singers, we are sensitive to sound. Opera is never performed with microphones, and when we sing our first notes, we rely on auditory feedback. This hall's sound is excellent and very smooth." Zhang Le, concertmaster of the Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra, also noted that the acoustic response in the hall was "clean, bright, and fast."
In the upcoming opening season, "New Sounds of Opera," the Soar Theatre will host Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra performing the complete Shostakovich symphonies, followed by Rudolf Buchbinder and the Berlin State Opera Orchestra in early November, presenting the complete Beethoven piano concertos. Consequently, these stress tests aim to verify stage technology integration, acoustic delivery, equipment operation, and live performance processes, assessing the hall's adaptability and operational support across diverse performance scenarios.
First Visitors Experience the Grand Opera House's Splendor
The internal test performance also marked the Grand Opera House's first encounter with an audience. Most attendees arrived early to explore and take photos. Upon entering the lobby, many were struck by the visual impact of the venue, with its red-and-white color scheme and the iconic fan-shaped spiral staircase. This prompted everyone to capture the venue's debut with their phones, creating personal mementos.
At the newly opened cultural merchandise store and coffee shop, crowds were steady, with the coffee shop reaching full capacity early on. Many audience members dressed formally for the performance, including groups of women in cheongsam. "This venue and performance are so elegant, so we felt we should dress accordingly to honor such a fine theater and show," they remarked. At the fan-shaped double-helix staircase, visitors marveled, "This architecture is breathtaking. It feels like we can touch the sky, and art no longer feels unattainable but within reach."
A group from the Pudong New Area Cultural and Art Guidance Center attended the test. After listening to half the performance, vocal instructor Jiang Yan reflected, "Opera is something you must experience live. With such a professional acoustic structure, being here is truly a special enjoyment." Shi Xudong, a member of the center's choir who described himself as a "zero-basis opera novice," expressed that attending a performance at this world-class venue was a joyful experience, allowing him to enter the world of opera. He expressed hope that the venue would offer more opportunities to hear professional opera, cultivating a broader audience and making opera a world-class signature for Shanghai.
10 Test Performances Cover Three Theatrical Spaces
Rigoletto kicked off a series of 10 internal test performances at the Shanghai Grand Opera House. Over the next month and a half, the test repertoire will mirror the venue's future regular programming, encompassing opera, music, dance, drama, and traditional Chinese opera, featuring performances from local municipal troupes such as the Shanghai Opera House, Shanghai Ballet, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, Shanghai Dance Theatre, and Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe. The stress tests will not only evaluate stage machinery, sound and lighting systems, stage management, and equipment stability but also cover the entire audience service process.
In preparation, the Grand Opera House's operations team has completed the installation of internal signage and wayfinding systems, trained concierge and security personnel, prepared the cultural merchandise and coffee shops, and developed a comprehensive stress test plan for the full service process. During the performance, the Shanghai Grand Opera House, in collaboration with the Shanghai Spiritual Civilization Construction Committee, invited audiences to incorporate real performance scenarios into the tests. This process includes verifying audience flow, ticketing, seating guidance, request response, and order maintenance while collecting feedback through questionnaires and on-site comments on performance space, acoustics, facility use, and service experience. The goal is to refine service processes and operational details, all in preparation for the Grand Opera House's official opening on October 17 and its subsequent regular operation.
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