Theater
Stirred Light & Free Flow (游光漫流) by DIDI Dance Theater (迪迪舞蹈劇團) is an experimental dance performance that uses coffee as a means of exploring the senses of taste and sight. With a combination of images, installations and, of course, coffee, the dance piece illustrates the importance of coffee for creative endeavour.
- National Taiwan Arts Education Center (國立台灣藝術教育館), 47 Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路47號)
- Tomorrow at 7:30pm
- Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance by calling (02) 2311-0574
Elevator Kids (電梯裡的小孩) by Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團) is a fantasy glove puppet theater performance that tells
the story of two trendy kids who go through a series of adventures.
- Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei (台北市西寧北路79號)
- Tomorrow at 3pm
- Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
The Nine-Curved Bridge (九曲橋) is a Taiwanese Opera performed by Ming-Quan Opera Group (民權歌劇團) and explores the dark side of human nature in the struggle for political power.
- National Taiwan Arts Education Center (國立台灣藝術教育館), 47 Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路47號)
- Sunday at 7:30pm
- Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance by calling (02) 2311-0574
Classical Music
Geamusic Flute Violoncello, and Piano Trio's concert (長笛、大提琴與鋼琴三重奏之夜). Featuring flutist Tsai Yu-min (蔡玉敏), cellist Lee Chun-yuan (李春媛), and pianist Lin Pei-chi (林珮琪),
the trio will give three concerts in Taipei, Hsinchu, and New York. The program will include works by Brahms, Czerny, Jean-Michel Damase, Ned Rorem, and Taiwanese folksongs.
- Tonight at the National Recital Hall, Taipei, Oct. 11 at the International Conference Center at Chung Hua University (中華大學國際會議廳), 707 Wufu Rd Sec2, Hsinchu (新竹市東香里六鄰五福路二段707號), and Sept. 15 at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York
- As of press time, NT$400 tickets are sold out, but NT$300 seats are still available through NTCH ticketing. For the Hsinchu concert, tickets can be obtained free of charge from the Chung Hua University Arts Center (http://arts.chu.edu.tw)
- Tonight and Oct. 11 at 7:30pm and Sept. 15 at 2pm
Sergei Salov (鋼琴魔法師-瑟吉˙薩洛夫2007鋼琴獨奏會). The 22-year-old Ukrainian pianist Salov gave his debut as a soloist playing Grieg's Piano Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine at the age of 11. In 2001, Salov became the Laureat of the Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition winning the Third Grand Prix as well as the Special Prize for the best interpretation of the commissioned work. The program of works will include Beethoven's Sonata Piano Op.53 "Waldstein", Brahms' Three Intermezzi, Op.117, and Chopin's 12 Etude, Op.10.
- Tonight at the National Taichung Library Chungsing Concert Hall (台中市中興堂), 291-3 Jingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路219之3號) and tomorrow at the National Recital Hall
- Tickets range from NT$300 to NT$800 for the Taichung concert and NT$500 for the Taipei concert. All tickets are available through ERA ticketing
- Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
Le Message de Paris - Soprano Chen Nan-hui and Clarinetist Hu Yu-ru duet concert (來自巴黎的留言-女高音陳南慧與單黃管演奏家胡郁如音樂會). Trained in Paris, Chen and Hu will present a program of works by French composers, including Meyerbeer's Hirtenlied, Bach's Ei ! wie Schmeckt der Coffer susse, Coffee Cantata BWV211, Ernest Chausson's Le Colibri and Les Papillons, Satie's Je te veux and La Diva de l'empire, Poulenc's Non, Monsieur, mon mari from "Les Mamelles de Tiresias", Widor's Introduction et Rondo, Op.72, Jeanjean's Andantino and Clair Matin, Aubain's Pastorale et scherzo, Kalliwoda's Heimathlied, Op.117, and Panseron's Tyrol qui m'as vu naitre.
- At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
- Tickets range from NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing
- Monday at 7:30pm
台大交響40週年團慶音樂會 (National Taiwan University Symphony Orchestra 40th Anniversary Concert). Featuring conductors Hsu Sung-Jen (徐頌仁), Cheng Li-pin (鄭立彬), sololist Chen Mei-ling (陳美玲), Chen Pei-chi (陳珮琪), Deng Chi-lung (鄧吉龍), and Liau Chong-boon (廖聰文), the NTUSO will present the 4th movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral."
- At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
- Tickets range from NT$200 to NT$1,000 and are available thorugh NTCH ticketing
- Wednesday at 7:30pm
A Quest - Ewen Tsai Cello Recital (蔡怡雯大提琴演奏會). Tsai will present a program of works, including Barriere's Sonata No.1 in B minor, Op.137, Schubert's Sonatina in D Major, Op.137, No.1, and Rachmaninov's Prelude in F Major, Op.2, No.1 for Cello and Piano and Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op.19.
- At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
- Tickets range from NT$150 to NT$350 and are available through ERA ticketing
- Wednesday at 7:30pm
Events
Tonight at Bliss, comedy hypnotist Brian David Phillips is performing, Blissnosis, what he says will be a more risque version of his usual routine. Those who arrive early will get a free CD. The show is for those aged 18 and older. Chinese translation will be provided.
- The show runs from 10pm to 11:30pm
- Entrance is NT$200
- Address: 148 Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市信義路四段148號).
- Call Bliss at (02) 2702-4371 for more information or go to www.BrianDavidPhillips.com
Contemporary
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) features happy punks Children Sucker (表兒) and Sub Captain (副隊長) tonight, metal band Triple Six (666) and Countervalve (逆瓣膜) tomorrow, Braces (牙套) and Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢) on Wednesday.
- The bar opens at 8pm and bands start playing at 9pm
- Entrance is NT$300
- B1, 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
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) presents the Yuwen Peng Jazztet (彭郁雯爵士雅集) tonight. The Champion (強辯) mini-concert tomorrow is already sold out.
On Sunday it's 13 (拾參) and Formula. Monday is open-jam night. On Tuesday it's new band Ocean (海洋樂團) and Mary See the Future. On Wednesday it's Lucky Q and
La Petite Nurse (小護士). Sandee Chan (陳珊妮) performs Thursday.
- Shows start at 9:30pm
- Entrance tonight, tomorrow and Sunday is NT$350. Tuesday and Wednesday is NT$300. On Monday there's a one-drink minimum.
- Thursday is NT$400
- 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
The Wall (這牆) features 13 (拾參) tonight with special guest Biung (王宏恩). Tomorrow it's Echo (回聲). And on Wednesday it's Respect, Huge Plonker (超大屌生物) and Overdose.
- Entrance tonight and tomorrow is NT$400. Wednesday is NT$300
- Bands take the stage 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
No Name and Crossroad perform tonight at the Living Room (小客廳). Tomorrow it's Sky Burial's Freak at the End of the Rainbow album release party (see story on Page 15). Tuesday is tarot night. Drunk> (酒客二人組) plays Wednesday. And on Thursday it's Cary Lazy and Pure Pie.
- Tonight's performance begins at 8pm. Tomorrow's starts at 10pm. Tuesday's tarot is from 8pm to midnight. Wednesday's music starts at 10pm. Thursday's bands start at 9pm
- Entrance is NT$300 plus a two-drink minimum
- 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路5段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
Friday night is Salsa Night at Grooveyard in Taichung. Following the salsa there will be live music from a yet-to-be-determined band. Tomorrow there's a Punk Party with Selling Us Everything, Dive Bomb and Stay Gold. Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday. Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night. Meanwhile, Groovecity features 'Round Midnight and Aboriginal musicians Eagle Lin and Gu La Pau tonight and tomorrow.
- At Grooveyard, tonight's salsa lasts from 8pm to 10:30pm. The band plays at 10:30pm. Tomorrow's music runs from 8pm to 11:30pm. Wednesday's performance is from 8pm to 10pm. Thursday's open-mic starts at 9pm. At Groovecity, tonight and tomorrow's music runs from 6pm to 10pm.
- Grooveyard cover is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow. There's no cover Wednesday and Thursday. There is no cover at Groovecity
- Groovecity is inside Tiger City (台中老虎城旁停車場) at 120 Henan Rd Sec 3, Taichung (台中市河南路三段120號老虎城). Grooveyard is located at 2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung (台中市華美西街105號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
Exhibitions
Looking Through – Chen Meng-tze Solo Exhibition (透明之間-陳孟澤個展). Winner of the Liao Chi-chun Oil Painting Award (廖繼春油畫創作獎) last year, Chen is noted for his elegant and tender reflections on the emptiness of modern life. While his early Shop Window series uses the overlapping technique to highlight the fancy costumes of the manikins and reflect the luxury of modern society, he later takes a realistic approach to detail manikins' bodies and facial expressions so as to bring about the existential tension of modern life. The Greenhouse View series further reveals the inconsistency between freeness and restriction as the transparent glass allows the viewer to look through but also isolates and protects.
- 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 Sept. 30
Love and Beauty – Retrospective Exhibition on Pan Chao-sen (愛與美-潘朝森70回顧展). In celebration of the multi-award winning artist's 70-year-old birthday this year, the exhibition features several works such as Fishing Village, Landscape and Still Life, Memory and Nude Women that span Pan's entire artistic career.
- Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館), 505 Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段505號2樓). Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 2758-8008
- Until Sunday
Between Form and Self – Retrospective Exhibition of Chen Shih-han (形我之間-陳實涵創作回顧展). Featuring 100 of the late artist's ceramic pieces, figurines and drawings, the exhibition reintroduces the viewer to the colorful world of Taiwan's foremost ceramist whose works are said to be a search for the transformations among simple yet rhythmic forms
- Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum (台北縣鶯歌陶瓷搏物館), 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 August 5
Solomon's Fair – Anthony Lam Solo Exhibition (浮華暫借-林秀清個展). The multi-media art show takes a sober gaze at the twisted values and ideologies by propagated by capitalism through the works of kinetic art, video and spacial installation pieces by the artist from Hong Kong.
- Juming Museum (朱銘美術館), 2 Sheshihu, Chinshan, Taipei County (台北縣金山鄉西勢湖2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2498 9940.
- Until August 12
Image is Power (影像就是力量). Featuring photographic works from pioneering to young artists, the special exhibition is held by the preparatory committee of Taiwan Photography Museum in the hope to raise the public's awareness of the pressing importance to preserve local photographic art works as well as explore and advance the medium as an art form.
- Taiwan International Visual Arts Center (台灣國際視覺藝術中心), 29, Ln 45, Liaoning St, Taipei (台北市遼寧街45巷29號). Open Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 7pm; Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Call (02) 2773 3347.
- Until July 28
In late October of 1873 the government of Japan decided against sending a military expedition to Korea to force that nation to open trade relations. Across the government supporters of the expedition resigned immediately. The spectacle of revolt by disaffected samurai began to loom over Japanese politics. In January of 1874 disaffected samurai attacked a senior minister in Tokyo. A month later, a group of pro-Korea expedition and anti-foreign elements from Saga prefecture in Kyushu revolted, driven in part by high food prices stemming from poor harvests. Their leader, according to Edward Drea’s classic Japan’s Imperial Army, was a samurai
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April 22 to April 28 The true identity of the mastermind behind the Demon Gang (魔鬼黨) was undoubtedly on the minds of countless schoolchildren in late 1958. In the days leading up to the big reveal, more than 10,000 guesses were sent to Ta Hwa Publishing Co (大華文化社) for a chance to win prizes. The smash success of the comic series Great Battle Against the Demon Gang (大戰魔鬼黨) came as a surprise to author Yeh Hung-chia (葉宏甲), who had long given up on his dream after being jailed for 10 months in 1947 over political cartoons. Protagonist