The £106m Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff opened over the weekend with a three-day celebration which included performances by Dame Shirley Bassey, the Cape Town Opera, the Kirov Ballet and opera singer Bryn Terfel.

Located on Cardiff Bay, the centre is the last of the Millennium lottery projects to open and has taken more than 20 years from initial planning to project completion.

The centre has been constructed from Welsh steel, slate and wood and will be home to the Welsh National Opera, as well as housing a total of seven arts companies.

With a 1,900-seat main auditorium, the centre has long sparked debate over its purpose, funding and cost with detractors citing the commercial failure of previous Millennium lottery-funded projects, such as the Millennium Dome.

2,000 guests gathered last night for the centre’s royal gala, attended by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales last night (28 November). Entertainers included Jonathan Pryce, Bryn Terfel and Charlotte Church. Details: www.wmc.org.uk