A symphony concert was staged on Aug 30 at Baotou Grand Theater, marking the beginning of a series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Song and Dance Theater of Baotou, according to a report in the Baotou Evening News.

The concert, conducted by Fan Tao who is from China Radio Film Symphony Orchestra, gave renditions of classic music including The Nadam Prelude and On the Hopeful Field.

Established in 1969, the National Song and Dance Theater of Baotou now boasts three artistic performance groups – a symphony orchestra, a song and dance troupe and a choir group.

The theater is mainly engaged in Mongolian folk song and dance performances. Symphonies, operas and dance dramas created and performed by the theater have won some 60 honors -- including the Wenhua Award for New Drama, an award set up by the Ministry of Culture to promote development of the arts, as well as the Lotus Award, which is China’s top dance award.

The theater has also produced China National Arts Fund backed art performances including Sui Han Ma Tou (Port City), which depicts events that took place during the Republic of China period (1912-1949) and shows the close ties between the Mongolian and Han peoples.

A symphony concert is staged at Baotou Grand Theater on Aug 30. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]