Theater
Lee Ching-chao (李清照), a Yue-style opera performed by the Nanjing Yue Opera Company (南京越劇團) and the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (台北市立國樂團). The opera tells the story of the Song Dynasty poetess Lee Ching-chao, and features Tao Qi (陶琪) and Hua Jie (華潔), both regarded as first-class performers in this genre. The Yue-style of opera is sung in the dialect of the Shaoxing region of Zhejiang Province. This performance is part of the 2006 Taipei Traditional Arts Festival and will be performed at the Taipei Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98號).
● Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing or from the venue.
● Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
Thunder Storm (雷雨), by the Beijing People's Art Theater (北京人民藝術劇院). The play, a classic of early modernism, is by China's foremost playwright Cao Yu (曹禺), and is a showcase of Chinese writers in the early part of last century coming to grips with modern Western drama. The story of a decadent family falling apart, it is tinged with Marxism, but is dramatically strong enough have held its own over the years. At the National Theater, Taipei.
● Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000 and are available through NTCH.
● Everyday from Tuesday until June 4 at 7:30pm, with a 2:30pm matinee on June 4
Liang Gong Yin (良弓吟) a performance of the Holo Opera Company (河洛歌子戲團) of ge-zi opera. Ge-zi opera, which is regarded by many as the only form of opera
indigenous to Taiwan, has less sophistication that Beijing opera and other major regional styles, but makes up for it with humor and a relaxed, access-ible style of performance. At the Novel Hall (新舞台), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei (台北市松壽路3-1號).
● Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
● Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
The Qin Emperor and Meng Jiang (秦王與孟姜女),
a puppet performance by Chiang Tse-mei (江賜美), one of Taiwan's very few female puppetmasters. The play has become something of a classic and it is now being restaged with the assistance of up and coming puppeteers. The performance will be accompanied by beiguan (北管) music and incorporates some modern stage technology to make the show even more exciting. At the Red Playhouse (紅樓劇場), 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei (台北市成都路10號).
● Tickets are NT$350 and are available at the door or through NTCH ticketing.
● Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
Music
NCO Elite Series: The Feast of Percussion Music (NSO精緻系列: 擊樂神話 獸之物語) will be staged at the National Recital Hall, Taipei. The National Chinese Orchestra (NCO) will present this vivid concert through animal images
and lively acting. In this show,
composers use traditional percussion instruments to create a spellbinding fairy tale.
● Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
● Tonight at 7:30pm
Double Happiness — An Evening of Concerto for Flute and Harp by Flutist William Bennett and Harpist Shannon Chieh (雙囍—班柰特 解瑄協奏曲之夜) organized by Pink Moon Music Theater (粉月亮音樂劇場), which is known for its cross-media stage productions, at the National Concert Hall, Taipei. Chieh is former principal harpist with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and harp lecturer at the National Taiwan Normal University, and has been described as a "virtuoso soloist" and "a harpist with ravishing musicianship."
● Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
● Tonight at 7:30pm
Russell Watson Taipei Concert (羅素華生浪漫之夜) will be held at the Taipei Area (台北巨蛋), 2 Nanjing E Rd Sec 4 (南京東路四段2號). British tenor Russell Watson is famous for his trademark mixture of popular Italian arias and pop classics. A humble factory worker from Salford, he was catapulted to international singing stardom, and has sold millions of records, sung for the Pope, presidents, prime ministers, and even British "royalty" like Posh and Becks, and Camilla and Charles. In 2000, his debut album "The Voice" sold 1.5 million copies.
● As of press time, NT$600 to NT$1,800 tickets are sold out, but seats are
available from NT$2,400 to NT$4,800 through ERA ticketing.
● Saturday at 7:30pm
The University of Santo Tomas Singers (菲律賓聖多瑪斯合唱團), established in 1992 under the leadership of Fidel G. Calalang Jr., will
perform gospel songs, baroque classics from the renaissance period, soul
music, Broadway classics, modern works from the 20th century, songs adapted from traditional Philippine music, and many other folk songs from various countries at the National Concert Hall, Taipei. It is a mixed choral ensemble composed of students and alumni. The group has taken part in countless international music festivals and won over 40 awards in international singing competitions.
● Tickets from NT$500 to NT$1500
remain available and can be purchased through NTCH ticketing.
● Sunday at 2:30pm
Amy Porter Flute Recital (愛咪波特長笛演奏會) offers flute lovers the opportunity to hear Porter, the award-winning American flutist and recipient of this year's Henry Award from the University of Michigan, at the National Concert Hall. The New York Times
describes her as "technically robust and musically forceful." Joined by
pianist Christopher Harding, Porter will play some favorites from the flute
repertoires of Mozart, Debussy, Karg-Elert, Godard, and Schubert.
● Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,800 and are available through NTCH ticketing.
● Monday at 7:45pm
Contemporary
The Wall (這牆)
Norther and Infernal Chaos. After the Finnish outfit Lordi won the Eurovision song contest, attention has turned to Scandinavian heavy metal. Norther, a melodic death metal band from Finland, formed in 1996 but only found stability with the addition of bassist Jukka Koskinen and keyboardist Tuomas Planman. The group is to be supported by local band Infernal Chaos, whose debut album, The Gates of Chaos, can be purchased at the venue. For more information visit www.norther.net or www.the-wall.com.tw, or call (02) 2930-0162
● Tickets are NT$800 on the door or NT$700 in advance
● Tomorrow at 6:30pm
Location: B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路4段200號B1)
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) We Save Strawberries (草莓救星) evolved from the run of the mill band format; lead singer, guitar, bass and percussion, and in 2001 added
electronica into the mix with new member DJ Tom. Band members Arny (阿尼) and Lapen (蠟筆) later formed NYLAS. Bibi and Band (趙之璧與樂團) are an alternative/folk, rock/metal group. Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www.river-side.com.tw
● Entrance is NT$350
● Tomorrow at 9:30pm
Zayin, an up-and-coming rock band comprised of five Taiwanese men who met while living in New Zealand, cut its teeth on the indie gig circuit and has produced two albums, the most recent, Love Tank (愛的坦克), released earlier this year under Avex Tracks, mixes Mando-pop sensibilities with alternative rock riffs. A boy band with an edge.
● Tuesday at
Location: B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1)
Partyroom London Elektricity has cut a swathe with its brand of drum n' bass, having worked with the likes of Roni Size and E-Z Rollers. Tony Coleman and Chris Goss concentrate on live performance, so expect orchestral
instruments like the flute to make an appearance during their "fast soul music" set. London Elektricity's debut album Pull The Plug was released to much applause by jungle DJs. Call (02) 3762-1289 or visit www.partyroom.com.tw.
● Tickets are NT$600 for men/NT$450 for women before 11pm, NT$500 for men and NT$350 for women after 11pm.
● Tomorrow at 10pm
Location: 138 Bade Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市八德路四段138號)
The Living Room (小客廳)La Petite Nurse (小護士) and Lo Mei-Ling (羅美玲). The nurses have been on the local indie scene for half a
decade and have honed a reputation for their original sound, which spans a wide spectrum. The four-piece group released ?ubescent Legumes (青春豆) last year, which demonstrated the band's versatility and talent; it includes the Britpop track Into the Sun, the
power pop song Smash the TV (摔電視) and rock anthem Spice Girl (辣妹). Aboriginal vocalist Lo Mei-ling is to support. Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com.
● Entrance is NT$200
● Tonight from 10:00pm until 12:00am
Location: 3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓)
National Taiwan University open gig featuring KbN, a Taipei-based electronica outfit that will play an acoustic set, Shu Fan (書凡), a folksy singer with acoustic accompaniment, White Eyes (白目) and Cosmic Man (宇宙人), a post-grunge, rock and nu-metal band.
● Entrance is free
● Today beginning at 12pm
Location: 1 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段1號)
Exhibitions
Untitled – A Solo Exhibition By Chen Luoke (無題—陳羅克個展). Drawing inspiration from the artist's travels in Europe, the exhibition features abstract paintings by the acclaimed German-based, Taiwanese painter who dubs his creations as human landscapes manifesting the sameness of human world and nature. German Cultural Center Taipei (台北德國文化中心), 12F, 20, Heping W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市和平西路一段20號12樓). Open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm. Call (02) 2365-7294
● Until June 16
(A Special Exhibition on the Art of Embroidery (奇針藝繡—鳳甲美術館館藏刺繡選萃特展), featuring a series of embroidery art works from the
museum's permanent collection. The works on display are grouped into five sections introducing visitors to the
history of embroidery art in China and Taiwan to its contemporary variations and innovations. Hong Gan Museum (鳳甲美術館), 5F, 260, Daye Rd, Taipei (台北市大業路260號5樓). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Call (02) 2894-2272.
● Until June 4
Green Field: Ecological Practice of Contemporary Art (綠色奇蹟:藝術與環境生態的對話), demonstrating the ecological coexistence of human beings and nature through the
recordings of local and foreign artists' projects that reshape the public space and environment. Workshops are also included to educate members of the public about ecological art. Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (高雄市立美術館), 20 Meishuguan Rd,?ushan District, Kaohsiung. (高雄市鼓山區美術館路20號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (07) 555-0331.
● Until June 18
180 Degree Noise II - Solo Exhibition by Lily Chiang (180度雜訊II—江莉萍個展), a video installation art work by the student artist from the Graduate School of Multimedia and Animation Arts, National Taiwan Uni-versity of Arts, opens up a psychedelic space through digital noises of images and sounds, and illuminates the
intimacy between appearances and the human sub-conscious. Etat Lab (在地實驗), 7F, 160, Jianguo S Rd, Sec 1, Taipei (台北市建國南路一段160號7樓). Open Monday to Friday from 2pm to 9pm. Call (02) 2778-9268.
● Until Today
New Media Collection 1965-2005 Centre Pompidou (龐畢度中心新媒體藝術展). Curated by Christine Van Assche, the director of New Media Art of France's Pompidou Center, the must-see exhibition brings to local museum-goers more than 30 classical video art works from the center's
collection including those of pioneering masters such as Nam June Paik, Bill Viola, Gary Hill and Tony Oursler. Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段181號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Call (02) 2595-7656.
● Until July 23
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
A sultry sea mist blankets New Taipei City as I pedal from Tamsui District (淡水) up the coast. This might not be ideal beach weather but it’s fine weather for riding –– the cloud cover sheltering arms and legs from the scourge of the subtropical sun. The dedicated bikeway that connects downtown Taipei with the west coast of New Taipei City ends just past Fisherman’s Wharf (漁人碼頭) so I’m not the only cyclist jostling for space among the SUVs and scooters on National Highway No. 2. Many Lycra-clad enthusiasts are racing north on stealthy Giants and Meridas, rounding “the crown coast”
Taiwan’s post-World War II architecture, “practical, cheap and temporary,” not to mention “rather forgettable.” This was a characterization recently given by Taiwan-based historian John Ross on his Formosa Files podcast. Yet the 1960s and 1970s were, in fact, the period of Taiwan’s foundational building boom, which, to a great extent, defined the look of Taiwan’s cities, determining the way denizens live today. During this period, functionalist concrete blocks and Chinese nostalgia gave way to new interpretations of modernism, large planned communities and high-rise skyscrapers. It is currently the subject of a new exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Modern
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she