Theater
Mind Compass (五色羅盤II) is a dance production by Tai-Gu Tales Dance Theater (太古踏舞團) that evokes a visceral exploration of movement on the stage. A blend of dance, music, installation art, light show and fashion show. A single piece that runs for 75 minutes featuring dancer Wang Juo-mei (王若湄).
* Experimental Theater (國家戲劇院實驗劇場), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (台北市中山南路21-1號)
* Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
* Tickets are NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Whispers at a Tombstone (青塚前的對話) performed by the National Guoguang Opera Company (國光劇團) This opera tells the story of two women that are forced to leave their hometowns at different periods in history. The opera is structured around the dialogue that might ensue if these women were to meet across time. With an updated script and superbly directed by Li Xiao-ping (李小平), the sadness of the women's voices should resonate with anyone that has been forced to leave their homeland.
* National Center for Traditional Arts (NCTA, 國立傳統藝術中心), 201 Wubin Rd Sec 2, Wuchieh Township, Ilan County (宜蘭縣五結鄉五濱路二段201號)
* Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
* Admission is free
Mom Is So Annoying (媽媽好討厭) tells the funny story of two daughters who, after being scolded by their mother, wish that she disappears. To their surprise, their mother does in fact disappear. Their initial feelings of joy soon turn to sadness as they anxiously wait for her return.
* National Taiwan Arts Education Institute (國立台灣藝術教育館), 47 Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路47號)
* Today at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 10:30am, 3pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 10:30am and 3pm
* Tickets are NT$200 to NT$600 and can be purchased through NTCH ticketing
Classical Music
Xue Xue Weekend Music Concert — Spiritual Dialogue of Classical Guitar (學學週末音樂會古典吉他的邀約—深度心靈對話). Featuring Guitarist Lee Chen-sheng (李振聲), flutist Lin Yi-chun (林怡君), and pianist Lee Shan-shan (李姍姍), the concert will present a program of works, including Mertz's Hungarian Fantasy, Torroba's Sonatina in A Major, Tedesco's Guitar Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op.99, Piazzolla's Histoire du Tango, and other guitar favorites.
* At the Xue Xue Institute (學學文創志業), 207 Tiding Blvd Sec 2, Neihu District, Taipei (台北市內湖區堤頂大道二段207號)
* Tickets are NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or call 0800-068-089
* Tonight at 7:30pm
2006 Su Shien-ta Violin Recital (2006蘇顯達自法國返國20年小提琴獨奏會). France-based Taiwanese violinist Su will present four concerts on tour in Taiwan beginning in Tainan tonight, Taoyuan tomorrow, Ilan on Dec. 29, and Taipei on Dec. 30. The program of works will include Delius' Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2, Gordon Shi-wen Chin's Phantasy for Violin and Piano, Richard Strauss' Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat Major, Op. 13, Falla's Suite Populaire Espagnole, Faure's Romance in B-flat Major, Op.28, and Sibelius' Five Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op.81, Poulenc's Sonata for Violin and Piano.
* Tonight at the Tainan Municipal Arts Center (台南市立藝術中心演藝廳), 332 Chungshan E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號), tomorrow at the Performing Arts Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government (桃園縣政府文化局演藝廳), 21 Hsianfu Rd, Taoyuan County (桃園市縣府路21號), Dec. 29 at the Ilan Performing Arts Center of the Ilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau (宜蘭縣文化局演藝廳), 482 Chungshan Rd Sec 2, Ilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482號), and Dec. 30 at the National Concert Hall, Taipei.
* For the Taipei and Tainan concert, tickets cost from NT$300 to NT$1,000 and for the Taoyuan and Ilan concerts, tickets cost from NT$200 to NT$500 through NTCH ticketing.
* All concerts start at 7:30pm
2006 Autumn "Just Back From Germany" Series: Christmas Carols—but somewhat different! ("我剛從德國回來"系列音樂會— 不一樣的耶誕歌曲). With the last concert in the "Just Back From Germany" series, the German Cultural Center Taipei will invite all great talents of the classical music scene, who "just came back" from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland to perform on stage to celebrate the approaching Christmas. The musicians will present special family events, including a solemn concert with music from all over the world. This 12th concert in the "Just Back From Germany" series is the German Cultural Center. At the same time, it will be the conclusion and highlight of the center's Christmas Bazaar, which will be held in the afternoon prior to the concert.
* At the 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)
* Free admission. For more information, please call the German Cultural Center at (02) 2365-7294
* Saturday at 7:30pm
Contemporary
Tomorrow at Eslite's flagship Xinyi store (誠品書店信義區旗艦店), Silent Agreement presents a "Christmas Party" with "reindeer and sparkling lights" and featuring music acts 8mm Sky (八釐米天空), Deserts Chang (張懸), Crayon (腊筆), Vera Queen and Marine.
* Advance tickets, available online at www.silentagreement.com, are NT$600, or NT$800 at the door
* 7:30pm to midnight
* 7F, 11 Songgao Rd, Taipei (台北市信義區松高路11號)
Tonight is the latest “Trip Per Round” party at The Wall (這牆), featuring, in order, Zephec's industrial-tinged micro house, then the French lyrics and electroclash of Kolette and DJ Kay’s electroclash (all three artists are signed by Tripper Records), followed by Elvis' hard-hitting tech house and DJ Kajun laying down progressive house beats to finish the night. Tomorrow it's Rock Oriental Express (搖滾東方), followed by “The Wall X!Mas Party” (聖誕狂熱派對) with DJs FunkStar, D7, Sandoz, Veda Inn and MC Beemer. I.R.I.S., Claire (阮筱芬) See the Vinyl Word for more details .Overdose play Wednesday. Thursday it's Tube and Brit-pop-style band Bitter.
* Entrance for tonight's show is NT$500. Tomorrow's is NT$400 for the rock concert and the dance party is free before midnight or NT$350 after. Wednesday and Thursday admission is NT$300
* DJs take the stage at midnight tonight and spin until 4am. Rock Oriental Express takes the stage tomorrow at 8pm, followed by the Christmas DJs at 11:30pm. Wednesday and Thursday’s shows start at 8pm
* B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or
visit www.the-wall.com.tw
The Living Room (小客廳) presents singer-songwriter Denise Juan (阮丹青), a former pop singer turned piano teacher, broadcaster and traveler, and British composer Hervie Syan, who explores the work of Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi (莊子) with “a musical layer of piano commentary,” spoken word and photography by South African Tobie Openshaw, tonight. Tomorrow it's Christmas with The Originals, Taipei's up and coming 1980s rock group. It's Chit Chat Game Night on Tuesday with board games, and on Wednesday it's “The Buzz” (嘰哩呱啦美語聚樂會), a weekly language club for anyone who wants to practice and improve their English, followed by the Swiss electronica group Bontempi Five, four DJs who spin break beats, electro, deep house, Detroit-style and minimal. Thursday it's jazz quartet My Precious (小心肝ㄦ) and pop-punk band Vanish, followed by Question Mark Theater (小客廳劇場) with Nagano Masataka.
* Tonight's performances begin at 10pm. Wednesday's evening of entertainment starts at 9pm. Thursday's concert starts at 8pm, followed by theater at 10pm
* Entrance for tonight is NT$300. On Wednesday, entry for the language club is NT$100 and NT$300 for the DJs, who take the stage at 11:30pm. Thursday night is NT$300 for the concert and NT$100 for the theater
* 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit
www.livingroomtaipei.com
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) presents jazz combo J.E.G. tonight, and “A Jazzy Christmas Eve” on Sunday with Geddy Lin (林正如) on guitar, saxophonist Dong Sun-wen (董舜文), Kinya Ikeda on double bass, Toshi Fuji on drums, Fred Liu (呂聖斐) on the keyboards, and featuring indie singer Ciacia (何欣穗).
* Both shows begin at 9:30pm
* Entrance for tonight is NT$350 and NT$500 for Sunday
B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit
www.riverside.com.tw
Velvet Underground (地下絲絨), which by day is an American restaurant, presents Swaz (小王阿志) and the Bone Band (骨頭樂隊) tonight. On Christmas Eve it's dinner plus music with Dreammaker, and on Christmas Day it’s dinner and music with hard rock cover band Loaded.
Tonight's show starts at 8pm. Sunday's and Monday's shows begins at 6pm
* Entrance tonight is NT$300 and NT$550 on Sunday and Monday for food and the performances
* B1, 50 Zhongxiao W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市忠孝西路一段50號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 or visit www.velvet-underground.com.tw
Witch House (女巫店) presents Xu Qingyuan (徐清原) and acoustic guitarist Allen Loo (盧家宏) tonight.
* Entrance is NT$300
* Tonight at 9:30pm
* 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362 5494 or visit
www.witchhouse.org
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會) it's Semicon (半導體) and Stay Gold, tomorrow features Varo, Tin Pan Alley (錫盤街) and Celluloid (賽璐璐), play on Christmas Eve, and on Thursday it's Fish and Sonic Deadhorse.
* The bar opens at 8pm and bands take to the stage at 9pm
Entrance tonight, tomorrow and Thursday is NT$300. Sunday is NT$500
* 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.underworld-taipei.blogspot.com for more information
Exhibitions
A Photographic View on the Sacred Snowland – Record of 24 Hours in Tibet Photo Exhibition (雪域聖境攝影展—西藏二十四小時全紀錄). Last summer, a group of photographers from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and China went on a mission to capture the enduring beauty of Tibet. The photographers traveled to the region's most remote places and the photo exhibition is the result of their work.
* Fortress Cafe, Taipei Chungshan Hall (台北市中山堂堡壘咖啡廳), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98號). Open daily from 11am to 11pm. Call (02) 2382-6971
* Until Dec. 30
Play, Light Box — A Special Exhibition on the Architecture of the Yingge Ceramic Museum (遊戲光盒子— 陶博館建築特展). Introducing the museum's architectural aesthetics and presenting its future vision, the exhibition takes visitors to explore the award-winning architectural design that uses the vocabulary of exposed concrete, steel frame, glass and pebble wash to create an open space as a playground for light and shade.
* Yingge Ceramics Museum (鶯歌陶瓷博物館), 200 Wenhua Rd, Yingge Township, Taipei County (台北縣鶯歌鎮文化路200號). Open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday; Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 6pm. Call (02) 8677-2727
* Until Jan. 28
A Special Exhibition on the Beauty of Buddhist Sculptures (歷代佛雕技術之美). Aiming to show the evolution of Buddhist images since the religion made its journey from India to China and the individual styles developed during the period from the Wei, Chin and Southern and Northern dynasties to the Ming dynasty, the exhibition presents valuable stone and wooden sculptures on loan from museums and private collectors that show off the diverse facets of Chinese Buddhist art.
* National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館), 49 Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路49號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2361-0270
* Until Jan. 28
Solo Exhibition of Wang Shou-ying (王守英創作個展). Returning from his journeys to France, Netherlands, Egypt, Morocco and around the island, the acclaimed artist has created over 40 new oil paintings of colorful flowers and landscapes. Proficient in different painting techniques, Wang has developed a distinctive style with a unique sensibility to colors and forms.
* Cathay United Art Center (國泰世華藝術中心), 7F, 236 Dunhua N Rd, Taipei (台北市敦化北路236號7樓). Open Monday to Saturday form 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2717-0988
* Until Jan. 13
Special Exhibition on Gregory Barsamian's Two Step (Gregory Barsamian雙舞步特展), featuring the stroboscopic sculpture by the acclaimed American artist.
* Home Gallery (家畫廊), 30-1 Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段30-1號). Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2591-4302
* Until Dec. 30
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
The corruption cases surrounding former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) head Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) are just one item in the endless cycle of noise and fuss obscuring Taiwan’s deep and urgent structural and social problems. Even the case itself, as James Baron observed in an excellent piece at the Diplomat last week, is only one manifestation of the greater problem of deep-rooted corruption in land development. Last week the government announced a program to permit 25,000 foreign university students, primarily from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, to work in Taiwan after graduation for 2-4 years. That number is a
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