More than 40 performances by international music and dance ensembles have been staged in cities across Shandong province during the ongoing 10th China Art Festival, local officials said.

Held every three years, this year's gala runs from October 11 to 26.

Another 10 shows will be presented during the festival.

Li Guolin, deputy head of the Shandong Department of Culture, said almost all performances are sold out.

The artistic offerings include symphonies, musicals and dance recitals from the United State, Russia, Spain, France, Canada and India.

One of the shows is the Chinese edition of the Broadway musical Mamma Mia.

Set on a picturesque Greek island, the play depicts the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her biological father by using a wealth of hit songs by ABBA, a Swedish pop band in the 1970s.

Since it debuted in London in 1999, Mamma Mia has been adapted to 14 languages.

It has developed into one of the most popular Broadway musicals with an audience of more than 45 million worldwide.

The Chinese language version alone has been staged 290 times in 19 cities nationwide.

"It is the first time for the show to be performed in Shandong.

"It made a great stir with its fascinating plot and beautiful melodies," Li said.

Liu Ying, a Jinan local, said "it is amazing to enjoy such a high-level performance at home". She took her 6-year-old son.

Other shows include the Music of Life by a singing and dancing troupe from Brigham Young University in the US, a Spanish flamenco version of Carmen, symphonies from the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire in France, classical ballets from Russia and a show called Spectrum by the Yannick Rieu Jazz Quartet from Quebec as well as Indian dances and Yu Opera from Taiwan.

Some foreign shows also made special arrangements for the Shandong audiences.

A 90-minite performance by the Yannick Rieu Band staged in Jinan last Friday featured not only jazz but also local songs.

Song Haiying, president of Ya Rui Co, which is responsible for the Yannick Rieu Band's performances at the festival, said as society prospers, people have growing needs for quality artistic outlets.

"The festival gives us a good chance to expand the culture market in Shandong."

Song said the band's performances will also be staged in the cities of Weifang, Heze, and Rizhao.

Different from the previous artistic festivals, which only hold foreign shows in the host city, this year's event involves all 17 cities in Shandong.

A special fund by the provincial government was allocated as a subsidy to help more people afford tickets.

"It is in line with the principle of 'making the event a gala by the people, for the people and of the people'," Li said.

The average ticket price for the foreign shows is about 40 percent lower than normal commercial performances, with the lowest price at only 30 yuan, Li said.

The festival's organizing committee spends 10,000 to 50,000 yuan ($8,000) subsidizing tickets for each performance.

Tickets are distributed for free to local senior citizens, migrant workers and those with physical disabilities.

wangqian2@chinadaily.com.cn