The Sage Gateshead - the region's spectacular new international centre for music - will open on December 17, it was announced yesterday.

Instead of a black tie gala concert, the Sage Gatesehead be launched with a weekend of performance and participation events to attract as broad a spectrum of visitors as possible, with up to 15,000 people expected to attend.

The announcement was made yesterday by Anthony Sargent, general director of The Sage Gateshead and Gateshead Council leader Councillor Mick Henry, on the glazed concourse of the £70m building.

Mr Sargent said: "While Norman Foster's spectacular building has been rising from the ground, the last four years have seen The Sage Gateshead showcasing our own musicians on the world stage.

"We have been bringing to Tyneside many of the world's most exciting artists, often for the first time.

"Now we bring all of that together _ the opening of our new home after a decade's planning is truly a day for everyone in the North-East who loves any kind of music, or wants to make their own new musical discoveries, to celebrate with us."

Mr Sargent said the programme of the opening weekend demonstrated The Sage Gateshead's commitment to presenting a broad range of musical styles.

It will include Northern Sinfonia with music director Thomas Zehetmair, vocal ensemble I Fagiolini, folk musicians Kathryn Tickell, Lena Willemark and Alistair Anderson.

Jazz performers Andy Sheppard, Juliet Roberts and Alex Wilson, world music favourites The Baghdaddies, newly signed Newcastle rock band Maximo Park, will also be among the many acts.

The Sage Gateshead houses a 1,650-seater concert hall, a 450-seater second hall, a music education centre and a specialist resource centre _ all linked by foyers designed for informal music making.

More than half a million people are expected to use the building each year.

Coun Henry said: "This building became part of Gateshead Council's vision for the future in the late 1990s when we recognised the possibilities to transform the whole of the Gateshead Quays area.

"The completion of this spectacular building is a major milestone in the area's regeneration that will once again put Gateshead on a world stage."

Readers can obtain full details of the programme by visiting www.thesagegateshead.org or by calling 0870 703 4555 to join the mailing list. Tickets for the full programme will be available on 0870 703 4555 from 1 October.