BEIJING — Police guarding against protests outside an opera concert by the Three Tenors beat at least one man Saturday night and dragged him away. A news photographer also was punched and detained.
The performance by Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo was one of the biggest in a series of events publicizing Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympics.
Security was intense for the $10 million gala concert, which was supposed to be a showcase for Beijing and its ability to hold large international gatherings.
Hundreds of police and members of the paramilitary Peoples Armed Police ringed the ancient Forbidden City in central Beijing, and officers stopped and questioned some pedestrians.
The Three Tenors performed before an audience of about 30,000 in the courtyard of the Meridian Gate in the heart of the 250-acre former imperial palace. The home of Chinese emperors for five centuries is now a museum. Tickets ranged in price from $60 to $2,000.
Outside the palace's front entrance, which faces Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, police were seen punching one man, then kicking him after he had fallen to the ground.
They knocked off the man's shoes and were trying to pull off his shirt as he was being dragged away. There was no indication why police beat the man.
A photographer for the French news agency, Agence France-Presse, was punched by police and detained outside the palace. He said the beating left bruises on his arm.
But the open-air concert, which was broadcast live on national television, went off without a hitch.
An evening breeze cooled members of the audience seated on padded, folding chairs. Two giant dragons flanked the stage and the palace's temples and pavilions were dramatically lighted.
The crowd cheered enthusiastically as three Chinese sopranos joined the tenors for an encore of the drinking song from Verdi's La Traviata. Flowers were presented by a group dressed in elaborate traditional Peking opera costumes.
Sun Hang, a saleswoman for an upscale real estate agency, was typical of the mostly young, prosperous audience.
"It's great that it will draw positive attention to China, just like the Olympics will. We want the world to hear our voice," said Sun, dressed in an elegant evening gown.
Attendees from overseas praised the setting and music. Some, though, were disappointed that even seats costing over $1,000 offered poor views of the stage.
"A fantastic venue, but not very good value for money," said American Mark Hellman, who flew in from Hong Kong with a companion and paid $3,200 for a pair of tickets.
The event, held on World Olympics Day, comes three weeks before the International Olympic Committee meets in Moscow to select the site of the 2008 games. Beijing's key rivals are Toronto and Paris. Istanbul, Turkey and Osaka, Japan are also in the running.