Steppe-ing Onstage

When the cultural history of the People's Republic is one day written, the first decades of the 21st century may well be known as the Age of the Grand Theater. By most estimates, there are between 40 and 50 new grand theaters in Chinese cities large and small, some already open and some still under construction.  Most contain an opera house, concert hall, and one or two smaller theaters that can be used for drama, Chinese opera, recitals and the like. These theaters tend to be architecturally spectacular and extremely expensive, with many designed by renowned global architects.