The Wales Millennium Centre, a Millennium Commission-funded receiving house for opera, ballet, dance and musicals, will be opening its doors on 26 November 2004.

A simultaneous announcement was made by Centre chief executive, Judith Isherwood, from the construction site in Cardiff Bay and by bass-baritone singer Bryn Terfel, from the summit of Snowdon, revealing the dates, line-up and some of the programme details for the opening weekend.

Isherwood said: "The building is progressing well, we’re on schedule and it is my pleasure to invite the people of Wales to the opening gala concert."

Tickets for the concert will be issued via public ballot to be organised early next year.

The opening weekend, spread over three days, will also include a music, sound and light spectacular and a Royal Gala performance.

Special satellite venues will be created across Wales and in certain cultural capitals across the world for those unable to visit Cardiff for the celebrations.

The Centre will cost £104.2m – so far, over £95m of this has been raised.

Principal funders include the Welsh Assembly, the Millennium Commission, the Arts Council for Wales, the Welsh Development Agency, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Cardiff County Council, Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and the Wales Tourist Board.

Individuals can get involved by paying £75 to "adopt" one of the slates on the front of the building. Details: www.wmc.org.uk