The WMC is trying to raise its profile in New York's arts community

Sir David Rowe-Beddoe and Judith Isherwood are also trying to entice top US performers to the venue.

The �104m WMC, in Cardiff Bay, is due to open its doors on 26 November.

Sir David said the New York trip was also to raise the final �3m towards the cost of the WMC.

WMC Chairman, Sir David, said: "We are here (in New York) to promote the Wales Millennium Centre which opens in 32 weeks.

When we open, there will be nothing like it in the world Sir David Rowe-Beddoe

"We are here to show to our American friends what we are doing - hopefully to see if we can unlock a little philanthropy.

"I think we've got a very exciting project - it's unique. When we open, there will be nothing like it in the world."

The WMC is attemting to raise the final �3m of its �106m target - the �104m cost of the centre, plus �2m market costs.

Asked what could happen if the WMC failed to find the final �3m, Sir David said: "We will (find) it, otherwise I have to take it forward as a capital debt with interest and I'm not going to do that.

'Best in world'

"We've raised �103m out of �106m. �3m is not going to fail on this one."

Sir David added that as well as fundraising, the trip to New York was intended to bring top American companies to the WMC.

He said: "We are going to bring the very best in the world to Wales.

The Wales Millennium Centre is due to open in November

"We are looking to form links with substantial American organisations who can produce work for us in Cardiff."

Opera singer Bryn Terfel is already booked to launch the WMC on 26 November, with the line-up also including Charlotte Church, Matthew Rhys, Sian Phillips, Ruthie Henshall and Jonathan Pryce.

Several arts organisations in Wales have announced they will relocate to the WMC.

The Welsh National Opera has already said it will cut its ticket prices as a result of the increased seating capacity at the WMC, compared to their present base at Cardiff's New Theatre.

WMC Chief Executive Judith Isherwood said she was confident that large audiences would be attracted to the centre from the beginning.

"We know the first year is going to be hard and the second year will be tough because we've got to see people coming back again," she said.

"We don't want to go down the path of bringing in sub-standard work because it is cheaper.

"We need to attract audiences to allow it to be sustainable."

The arts centre in Cardiff Bay aims to provide a new world-class stage for full scale ballet, opera, musical theatre and dance.