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The relocated and renovated Shanghai Concert Hall opened its ticket office yesterday for the first concert series at its new location.

The Royal Philharmonic of London will stage the official opening concert on October 1.

That show will be followed by a weeklong "Chinese Musicians' Series" featuring composer Tan Dun's multimedia concert "The Map" and Min Huifen's recital on the erhu (a two-string bowed instrument).

The newly founded Shanghai Philharmonic, the concert hall's resident orchestra, will also stage a couple of prelude concerts at the end of this month.
"The concert hall will serve as the home for local music buffs with the most classic music performances in Shanghai. To reach that goal, we will gradually move the scene of top concerts here from the Grand Theater," said Le Shengli, general manager of the Shanghai Grand Theater Group.

The group acquired the concert hall last October.

Lower ticket prices will also make concert hall performances more accessible for most people, Le said.

Zhang Wenjing, 24, was the first ticket buyer after the booking office opened yesterday afternoon. She bought a 80-yuan (US$9.6) standing ticket for the opening concert.

"I came waiting for the doors to open early this morning. It's a big surprise that they sell standing tickets and I am looking forward to more audience-friendly approaches," Zhang said.