THEATER
Midsummer's Night Caprice (仲夏夜狂想曲) by Lanyang Dance Troupe (蘭陽芭蕾舞團) takes an alternative look of Shakespeare's masterpiece Midsummer Night's Dream. The performance deftly fuses classic ballet with modern dance.
*Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25 Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市八德路三段25號)
*Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
*Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
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
Mom Is So Annoying (媽媽好討厭) tells the amusing story of two daughters who, after being scolded by their mother, wish that she would disappear. To their astonishment, their mother does in fact disappear and their initial feelings of joy soon turn to sadness as they anxiously await her return.
*Keelung Cultural Center (基隆文化局藝術廳), 181 Hsinyi 1st Rd, Keelung City (基隆市信一路181號)
*Tomorrow at 7:30pm
*Tickets are NT$100 to NT$250 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
UPCOMING
Indie-rock gods Yo La Tengo, thrash metal band Testament and model-singer Anna Tsuchiya are just a few of the international acts in the eclectic lineup scheduled to perform at this year's Formoz music festival (野台開唱), which takes place from July 27 to July 29 at Taipei's Zhongshan Soccer Stadium (中山足球場). Advance three-day passes are NT$2,800 if purchased today, NT$3,000 if purchased between tomorrow and Thursday, and NT$3,200 at the door. Single-day tickets are NT$1,600.
*Zhongshan Soccer Stadium is located at 66 Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路3段66號), next to the Yuanshan (圓山) MRT station. For more information, log on at www.formoz.com
CONTEMPORARY
Popular expat funk, groove and rock ensemble Public Radio join veteran pub scene rockers 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽) upstairs tonight at Bliss. Tomorrow the bar hosts solo troubadour Mr Green.
*The music starts at 10pm
*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) 2702-1855 or visit www.bliss-taipei.com
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) presents Black Faith With Sonic Pace (黑色信念跟隨著音速腳步) and Tube (地下鐵). Tomorrow it's Freckles (雀斑), 88 Guava Seeds (88顆芭樂籽) and Yuntech (雲鐵客). Mosquilephant (蚊子大象) and Mary See the Future play 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
Indie songstress Deserts Chang (張懸) performs tonight at The Wall (這牆). Anthelion (幻日) plays tomorrow. On Sunday, indie-folk pub circuit journeymen and newly minted Golden Melody award winners Soda Green (蘇打綠) return for a mini-concert in which smoking, photography and recording of any kind will be banned. All of this week's Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽) and Free Night concerts have been canceled.
*Entrance tonight is NT$400. Tomorrow and Sunday is NT$500
*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 performs tonight at the Living Room (小客廳). Tomorrow it's critically acclaimed blind indie singer-songwriter and saxophone player Hsiao Huang-chi (蕭煌奇) and his All-in-One Band (全方位樂團), followed by expat pop rocker band The Antagonauts. Tuesday is tarot night with Eiffel (塔羅老師艾菲爾). Wednesday features Fourth Person Performance Space (第四人稱表演域) and Drunk (酒客二人組). On Thursday it's Ai Ching (艾青) and the Love Band (愛情樂隊), followed by Longplaying 52 (黑膠52).
*Tonight's performance begins at 8pm. Tomorrow's start at 9pm. Tuesday's tarot is from 8pm to midnight. Wednesday's music starts at 8pm. Thursday's bands start at 9pm
*Entrance is NT$300 plus a two-drink minimum
*3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei
(台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts JEG (這個爵士樂團) jazz combo tonight. Miss Dessy and Lu Guang-zhong (盧廣仲) perform tomorrow. Tripoets (參劈) take the stage Sunday with a special guest. Monday is open-jam night. Full Metal (滿鐵) and Golden Button (金釦子) perform Tuesday, followed by Hao-en (昊恩) and Puyuma singer Jia-jia (家家). Captain Peanut (花生隊長) performs with special guest Hsiao Hsien (小嫻) on Wednesday, then Bibi Chao (趙之璧) and her band. On Thursday it's Claire (郭靜) with guest star Fan Wei-chi (范瑋琪), followed by Joker.
*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
Friday night is Salsa Night at Grooveyard in Taichung. Following the salsa there will be live music from funk rock combo Independent Race. Chiayi rock group Adhoc take the stage tomorrow. Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday, and Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night. Meanwhile at Groovecity, Eagle Lin and Gu La Pau tonight, and again tomorrow with 'Round Midnight.
*At Grooveyard, tonight's salsa lasts from 8pm to 10:30pm. The band plays at 10:30pm. Tomorrow's music runs from 9pm to 11:30pm. Wednesday's performance is from 10pm to midnight. Thursday's open-mic starts at 9pm. At Groovecity, tonight's music runs from 8pm to 10pm and tomorrow's runs from 6pm to 10pm.
*Grooveyard's 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2樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
Tomorrow in Kaohsiung, Red-I and the Riddim Outlawz will roll into town and blow out reggae, ska and jazz with local characteristics at Hi-Thai Southeast Asia pub and restaurant.
*The music starts at 11pm
*NT$400 entrance includes two drinks
*240 Chungshan 2nd Rd, Kaohsiung (高雄市中山二240號), near the intersection of Singuang (新光) Road. Call (07) 330-6638
DJs spin acid jazz and house every Wednesday from 10pm until 4am at On Tap, the reincarnation of Spaceman and a popular watering hole and restaurant for the international community. Also, On Tap will now be opening three hours earlier, from 5pm every night except Monday. The bar closes at 4am Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, and at 6am Friday and Saturday.
*Address: 49, Ln 308, Guangfu S Rd, Taipei (台北市光復南路308巷49號). Call (02) 2741-5365
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Cremona Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Taipei - Borodin String Quartet (克里蒙納獨奏家室內樂團 - 包羅定弦樂四重奏). Featuring violinists Wang Hsi-chen (王璽禎) and Liu Ying-hsiu (劉映秀), violist Chen Ting-han (陳庭漢), and cellist Chuang Hsin-yi (莊心怡), the Cremona Soloists Chamber Orchestra will present Borodin's only two string quartets String Quartet No.2 in D Major and String Quartet No.1 in A Major, both of which were written late in life.
*At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
*As of press time, NT$500 to NT$800 tickets are sold out, but NT$300 seats are still available through NTCH ticketing
*Tonight at 7:30pm
Chen Yu-ling Piano Recital (陳譽齡鋼琴獨奏會). Chen is currently a music therapist in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. She will hold two concerts in Taoyuan and Taipei and present a program of works, including Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.15, Op.28, Liszt's Sonetti del Petrarea 47, 104, and 123, Gershwin's Three Preludes for Piano, and Schumann's Carnival, Op.9.
*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 Hsienfu Rd, Taoyuan County (桃園市縣府路21號) and July 28 at the National Recital Hall, Taipei.
*Free admission for the Taoyuan concert. For the Taipei concert, tickets range from NT$200 to NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing
*Tomorrow and July 28 at 7:30pm
Taipei Guitar Ensemble 2007 Concert (台北古典吉他合奏團2007年度音樂會). Celebrating its 31st year, the Taipei Guitar Ensemble is currently under the direction of Ke Yi-chin (柯懿芹). Featuring principle Bolivian guitarist Mauricio Terrazas, guitar soloist Liu Shih-yu (劉士堉), and clarinetist Hang Ling (杭玲), the ensemble will be conducted by Ke and Chiu Chun-hsien (邱俊賢) and present a program including Vivaldi's Concerto in C, RV558, Weber's Introduction, Theme, and Variations, Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers, and Giuliani's Guitar Concerto, Op.30.
*At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
*As of press time, NT$200 to NT$300 tickets are sold out, but NT$500 seats are still available through NTCH ticketing
*Tuesday at 7:30pm
Flute and Guitar Duet Multimedia Concert (長笛與吉他二重奏+數位攝影音樂會). What will the numbers 19, 3, 8, and 24 have to do with one another? The answer will be in this concert with a 19-fret guitar, 3-octave-range flute, and 24-frame multimedia performance. Flutist Lin Yi-chun (林怡君) and guitarist Su Meng-feng (蘇孟風) will present a program of works, including Paganini's Sonata Concertata, Kleynjans' Deux Arias, Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Sonatina, Assad's Fantasia Carioca and Jobiniana No.2, and Pujol's Suite Buenos Aires.
*At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
*All tickets cost NT$300 and are available through NTCH ticketing
*July 25 at 7:30pm
A Dialogue between Troubadour and Six-String Guitar (吟遊詩人與六弦琴的對話). Canada-based countertenor D. Kai Ma (馬稚凱) was born in Taiwan and began his musical performance in both piano and voice at the age of 11. The renowned producer William Wu discovered his special talent as a "falsettist." Kai henceforth decided to study countertenor. In 2003, Kai immigrated to Ottawa, Canada, where he studied with Laurence Ewashko, star countertenor Daniel Taylor, and the sought-after tenor Michiel Schrey. In Canada, he has been selected as chorister and soloist in the Cantata Singers of Ottawa and Ottawa Bach Choir where he is currently the only male alto, and the Chorus of Opera Lyra, which often sings opera and oratorios in the National Arts Center of Canada. With guitarist Su Meng-feng (蘇孟風), he will return to Taiwan to give three concerts of troubadour songs.
*July 26 at the Kaohsiung City Music Hall (高雄市音樂館), 99 Hehsi Rd, Kaohsiung (高雄市河西路99號), Aug. 9 at the National Tainan University Recital Hall (台南大學雅音樓), 33 Shulin St Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市樹林街二段33號), and Aug. 11 at the Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號).
*All tickets are sold out for the Taipei concert. NT$250 tickets are still available for the Kaohsiung and Tainan concerts and can be purchased through NTCH ticketing
*July 26 and Aug. 9 and Aug. 11 at 7:30pm
EXHIBITIONS
Mind Space - Exploring the Possibilities (心智空間衍繹). Featuring works by more than 50 artists from home and abroad from the 1980s until the present time, the exhibition focuses on the exploration of the extension of visual space and illuminates the artists' unique aesthetic vocabularies that reflect individual inner minds as well as the relation between art and space.
*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 Oct. 28
Ponal - Solo Exhibition of Rahic Talif (殘-拉黑子˙達立夫個展). A celebrated Amis artist from Hualien, Talif creates a series of installation pieces made from driftwood to dwell upon the ideas of time and velocity, human beings and the nature.
*Eslite Bookstore - Xinyi Branch (誠品信義店), 11 Songgao Rd, Taipei (台北市松高路11號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 9pm. Call (02) 8789-3388.
*Until July 29
The Photography of Resistance (關於抵抗).Having chaired the World Press Photo international jury, Bangladeshi writer, social activist and photographer Shahidul Alam is a celebrated artist as well as educationalist who has set up a number of photography institutes in Bangladesh and his works have been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts among others. Alam's Taipei exhibition navigates the viewer through cluster bombs, mines, burning oil wells and nuclear dumping to remind us how our lives are entwined in the globalized world that is dominated by the so-called advanced countries and big corporations.
*Islanders Studio (島民工作室), 95 Chaozhou St, Taipei (台北市潮州街95號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7:30pm. Call (02) 2396-9208
*Until Sept. 2
Turmoil, Representation and Trends — Modern Chinese Painting 1796 — 1949 (世變、形象與流風 — 中國近代繪畫1796-1949). With new approaches and research material available to scholars for the past 20 years, the large-scale exhibition aims to present multiple discourses and scholarly investigation on this exciting period of Chinese painting history.
*Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts(高雄市立美術館), 20 Meishuguan Rd, Gushan 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 Aug. 26
Special Exhibition on the Living Organisms from Gondwana (岡瓦那古陸生物群特展). Featuring more than 300 specimens that include fossils dated back 600 million years ago found in Australia and reconstructed dinosaurs found in Antarctica, the rare exhibition reveals the secret of evolution on the southern supercontinent that includes Antarctica, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Australia-New Guinea, New Zealand as well as Arabia and the Indian subcontinent.
*National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館), 1 Kuanchien Rd, Taichung (台中市館前路1號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (04) 2322-6940.
*Until Nov. 11
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