The question whether the nation needs opera and ballet or an international opera house is seldom addressed by politicians or the media.

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The ballet and opera companies survived, the dancers in particular maintaining an international reputation for excellence.

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The days when La Scala opera stars like Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano were international celebrities have passed.

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Founded in 1973, Cloud Gate (it gets its name from China's oldest dance, dating back 5, 000 years) is on a nonstop voyage through world cultures, fusing tai chi, meditation, Chinese opera, modern dance and ballet into an art form that has captivated international audiences.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek

The circus opera, created by Gorillaz and Chen Shi Zheng, opened the 2007 Manchester International Festival.

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Now in its 65th year, the international festival presents a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance in six major theatres and concert halls and a number of smaller venues.

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Ms. Callas, American-born and Greek-educated, had made a series of appearances in Italian opera houses in the late 1940s that stunned audiences and critics and laid the foundation for her international celebrity.

WSJ: Maria Callas | Puccini's Tosca | The Measure of a Diva | Masterpiece by David Mermelstein

The International Music Festival , held in October or November, is usually an intriguing mix of opera, musicals, visiting Portuguese orchestras and other musical events.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Travel Watch