British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber said he hoped to promote his work in China during a visit in Shanghai.

Webber was obviously excited about his first visit to the city at the end of January when his popular hits Phantom of the Opera and Cats set theatrical box office records and attracted fans from northeast China's Harbin to Hong Kong over the past four years.

Phantom of the Opera is currently in the middle of a three-month run at the Shanghai Opera House.

Amazed by the grandeur of the Opera House and the popularity of his work among Chinese audiences, Webber said he wanted to promote his creative talent in the world's most populous nation within the year.

Webber said with its rich cultural history and huge market for quality musicals, China will definitely make breakthroughs in the field if proper efforts are made.

The composer said the biggest obstacle for creating musicals in China lies in the lack of top-quality theaters, a crucial element in a musical's success.

Webber's other plays include Song & Dance, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard and The Beautiful Game. The composer has won a string of awards including seven Tonys, three Grammys, six Oliviers, a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2005)