It was early summer in Beijingand the sun spread its scorchingrays unsparingly. On May 14, adozen workers, bathed in sweat, werebustling about the historic, 110-year-old compound of the CPAFFC. Thesoundman, complaining about theweather, took off his coat to provideshade for his mixing console. A stagewas being erected, lighting facilitiesinstalled, wires connected, musicalinstruments put in place... The emptysquare in front of the Main Buildinggradually turned into an open-airtheater as each task was completed.The two Bronze Lions on each sideof the stage seemed to watch all thisfrantic activity with bemused curiosity.