From the Wiener Philharmoniker, the Mariinsky Ballet and Schaubuhne Berlin, to performers of folk art listed as China's intangible cultural heritage, the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival offers a cultural feast for all.

Held from Oct 17 to Nov 27, the annual festival brings together some of the most esteemed performers and groups from around the world, and presents the China premiere or exclusive performances in Shanghai of high-quality productions, such as Romeo and Juliet by the Stuttgart Ballet and Richard III by Schaubuhne Berlin of Germany, as well as Kontakthof — Echoes of'78, a revival of the Pina Bausch work commissioned and coproduced by the arts festival.

The opening production this year was a performance of Kunqu Opera classics from the Imperial Palace at the Shanghai Grand Theatre on Oct 17.

The closing show, taking place at Shanghai Symphony Hall on Nov 27, will be a concert by the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the first orchestra in Italy devoted exclusively to the symphonic repertoire. It will be conducted by the new music director of the company, British musician Daniel Harding, who also conducted the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's 2024 New Year's Concert.