Highlight
The Imprint of Sound -- Conversation of Sound and Image (聲音的痕跡 -- 聲音vs.影像影展). P.O.P Cinema presents the latest installation of its critically acclaimed hybrid-cinema series that offers in-depth exploration on the intricate relationship between image and sound. The rarely-seen selection of award-winning films takes viewers into the minds of the world's greatest musicians from contemporary composer Gyorgy Ligeti, elusive jazz vocalist and trumpeter Chet Baker, New York composer and saxophone players John Zorn to post-punk band Joy Division's lead singer Ian Curtis and Mali's Ali Farka Toure, known as "the bluesman of the desert" in the West.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SPOT -- TAIPEI FILM HOUSE
Other selected works take viewers on lyrical voyages to the Gamelan musicians in Indonesia, the Aboriginal tribe in the equatorial forest of Southeast Cameroon who call themselves Baka Pygmeas and the Jewish musicians who sing Yiddish songs, Klezmer music and Hebrew chants.
The line-up of 26 films also includes cutting-edge experimental works as well as films by the world's best-known masters such as Alexander Sokurov's Elegy of Life. Rostropovich. Vishnevskaya, Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation and Orson Welles' Touch of Evil.
- The festival runs from today through Sept. 7 at Spot -- Taipei Film House (光點台北), 18 Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei (台北市中山北路二段18號).
- Tickets cost NT$130 for members; NT$150 for non-members. For more information, call (02) 2511-7786 or visit www.twfilm.org/sound2
Theater
Le Petit Prince is a musical composed by Richard Cocciante and is based on the fairytale of the same name by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The show sports a top-notch cast led by Laurent Ban of Les Miserables fame, and leads the audience through an otherworldly journey through the floating planets inhabited by a whimsical crew of characters. The elaborate production features a lavish stage designed by Hans Schavernoch and costumes designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
- National Theater (國家戲劇院), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (台北市中山南路21-1號)
- Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
- Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$6,000 and are available through NTCH ticket outlets or at www.artsticket.com.tw
Practicing Accusations (控訴練習) is a theater performance by Summer, Seemless, Iron Theater Troupe (夏*綻*鐵 戲劇祭) that explores the emotions of two men and a woman trapped in a room without doors. Sometimes talkative, other times uncommunicative, the characters' various mental states reflect the difficulty people experience when trying to change their behavior to maintain relationships.
- Tainan Eslite Bookstore (台南城品書店), B2, 181 Changrung St Sec 1, Tainan (台南市長榮路一段181號B2)
- Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
- Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticket outlets or at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical Music
Nuance Chamber Ensemble 2007 Concert (微分音室內樂集2007年度音樂會). The NCE has entered its sixth year since its inception in 2001, and its past concert tours around Taiwan have been well-received.
Featuring violinist Tsai Shih-chien (蔡詩肩) for the Taipei concert and Lin Wen-hsuan (林文宣) for the Taoyuan concert, violist Hu Chu-yin (胡竹音), cellist Hsieh Meng-jung (謝孟容), and pianist Chen Ho-yi (陳禾宜), the ensemble will give three concerts in Taoyuan, Taipei, and Hsinchu featuring two different concert programs. For the Taoyuan and Taipei concerts, the program will include Dvorak's String Quartet in F Major, Op.96 and Dohnanyi's Piano Quintet No.1 in C minor, Op.1. For the Hsinchu concert, the program will include Brahms' Piano Trio No.3 in C minor, Op.101 and Dohnanyi's String Trio in C Major, Op.10.
- Tonight at the Performing Arts Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government (桃園縣政府文化局桃園館演藝廳), 21 Hsianfu Rd, Taoyuan County (桃園市縣府路21號), Sunday at the National Recital Hall, Taipei, and Wednesday at the Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳), 17 Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
- Free admission for the Taoyuan concert. For the Taipei concert, NT$200 tickets are sold out, but NT$300 and NT$500 seats are still available; for the Hsinchu concert, tickets cost NT$100. All tickets can be booked through ERA ticketing
- Tonight and Wednesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
2007 Kaohsiung County International Music Festival - Ecutez.Paris (2007高雄縣國際音樂節-聆聽.巴黎). The last concert of the Kaohsiung County International Music Festival concert series will be held tomorrow evening. France-based Taiwanese pianist Li Fang-yi (李芳宜) will be the music director of the festival. The concert will feature several renowned French musicians, such as violinist Plays Guillaume, flutist Patrick Desremerux, and others.
- In the Water Dance Plaza in front of the Kaohsiung County Council (高雄縣議會水舞廣場), 156, Kuotai Rd Sec 2, Fengshan City, Kaohsiung County (高雄縣鳳山市國泰路二段156號)
- Free admission
- Tomorrow at 7pm
The Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra - A Night of "Nodame Cantabile" (台北愛樂管弦樂團 -「交響情人夢」之夜).
A live-action TV drama adapted from Tomako Ninomiya's serial manga Nodame Cantabile has been popular in Taiwan over the past few months. Now, the drama will be staged in a concert setting by the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra. Due to the popularity of this Japanese TV drama, all tickets have been sold out since they first went on sale months ago. Fortunately, outdoor live broadcasts of the concert will be screened free of charge. A pre-concert talk will be held in the lobby of the National Concert Hall in Taipei 30 minutes prior to the concert, and it will also be broadcast live. Featuring pianist Andrei Yeh (葉孟儒), the orchestra will be led by conductor Lin Tien-chi (林天吉) and present a program of works, including Rosinni's William Tell Overture, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op.92.
- At the National Concert Hall, and the square outside the National Concert Hall, Taipei
- All tickets are sold out, but outdoor live broadcasts of the concert will be screened free of charge
- Sunday at 7:30pm with a pre-concert talk at 7pm
Sunday Matinee Concert Series - Romantic Strings of Latino Lovers (夏日:雷光室內樂集 - 拉丁情人浪漫弦情).
Organized by the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Henry Mazer Music and Culture (台北愛樂暨梅哲音樂文化館) and featuring violinist Hung Chang-wen (洪章文), cellist Chen Yi-ting (陳怡婷) and pianist Chen Chien-fen (陳倩芬), the concert will include a program of works, such as Ysaye's Violin Sonata No. 3 and other tango works by Gaspar Cassado and Piazzolla.
- At the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Henry Mazer Music and Culture Hall (台北愛樂暨梅哲音樂文化館), B1, 738 Jinnan Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市濟南路一段7號B1)
- Tickets cost NT$250 and are available through NTCH ticketing
- Sunday at 2:30pm
Contemporary
The Living Room (小客廳) showcases darkly satirical, hard-hitting expat punk outfit Sky Burial (www.sky-burial.com) - a band that puts much stock into showmanship - tonight, preceded by experimental guitarist Wen-fang Kuo (郭紋汎). Tomorrow it's Retribution (報復正義) and No Name. Tuesday, as always, is tarot night with Eiffel (塔羅老師艾菲爾). Wednesday features the Forthheart Theater Group (第四人稱表演域), followed by Drunk (酒客二人組). Secondary Citizen (次等公民) and the Sungya Duet (桑雅二重奏) perform on Thursday.
- Tonight's shows start at 9:30pm. Tomorrow's begin at 9pm. Tuesday's tarot runs from 7:30pm to midnight. Wednesday's theater starts at 9:30pm, followed by the music at 10:30pm. Thursday's performances begin at 10pm
- 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
Tonight at Bliss, it's local hip-hop acts Lights of the City (城市之光) and RPG, along with punk band Damn Kids>, which is comprised of former members of the The Clones (複製人). Tomorrow minimalist post-rock outfit To a God Unknown join catchy indie rockers White Eyes (白目). Crossroads play Thursday.
- Performances start at 9pm sharp tonight and 10pm tomorrow
- Entrance to the bar is free. On Fridays women wearing skirts get a free drink of their choice. Cover for the shows upstairs is NT$200
- 148 Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市信義路四段148號).
- Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com
There's a big, early show this evening at The Wall (這牆), with nu-metal, hardcore and alt-rock bands Baby Bomb, Madflow, Huge Plonker (超大屌生物), Respect, Lazy Lady, Gudingke (固定客), Overdose and Alegu (阿雷固). Tomorrow it's Sugar Plum Fairy (甜梅號), one of Taipei's best and longest-serving shoe-gazer bands. So What play Sunday.
Spacecake, Orange Doll (橘娃娃) and Digihai play in an all-indie-electronica show on Wednesday. UK four-piece Transition (www.transition.tk) return to Taiwan for a show on Thursday.
- Entrance tonight is NT$500, tomorrow is NT$400, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday is NT$300. Admission includes one free drink
- Bands take the stage at 5:40pm tonight, 8pm tomorrow, 3:30pm Sunday, 8pm Wednesday and 8:30pm Thursday
- 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
Underworld (地下社會) features garage-rock four-piece Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢) tonight, along with Touming Magazine (透明雜誌). Tomorrow it's Yuntech (雲鐵客) and Damn Kidz. Zag Lope (柴可洛噗) and indie-electronica group Orange Doll (橘娃娃) play Wednesday.
- The bar opens at 8pm and bands start playing around 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) is hosting an evening of fusion jazz. Tomorrow the venue will be the scene of another mini-concert by popular indie-pop band Tizzy Bac. Sunday is a night of hip-hop with Tripoets (參劈) and other artists from local hip-hop label Kao Records (顏社). Monday, as usual, is open-jam night, when any individual performer or group, amateur or professional, can take the stage and play a few songs on Riverside's top-of-the-line sound system.
On Tuesday indie band La Petite Nurse (小護士) and heavy-metal band Sonar (聲納) take the stage.
On Wednesday there's a mini-concert with popular indie-pop band Wonfu (旺福). Thursday features Incorrigible (頑童音樂) and East Theater (東劇團), followed by New Yorker (紐約客).
- Shows start at 9:30pm
- Entrance tonight, tomorrow, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursdday is NT$350. Tuesday is NT$300
- 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
On Tap shows FA Cup games from 7:45pm to 3am on Saturdays, upstairs on its big-screen TV. On Wednesdays the pub hosts Underdog, Taipei's mid-week funk and acid jazz bonanza, with Shorty. The DJ starts at 10pm and spins until 3am or 4am.
- 49, Ln 308, Guangfu S Rd, Taipei (台北市光復南路308巷49號). Call (02) 2741-5365
- Friday night is (non-smoking)
Salsa Night at Grooveyard in Taichung. Following the salsa, Jazzaholics will play jazz, fusion and groove. Tomorrow there's a "powerful double billing" with crazy Texas twins The Deadly Vibes and euro-rock band The Doolittles.
Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday.
Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night.
- Salsa night runs from 8pm to 10pm. The Jazzaholics take the stage afterwards. Saturday's music starts at 9pm and happy hour is from 8pm to 10pm. Rogers plays from 10pm to midnight. Open-mic night starts at 9pm
- Grooveyard cover is NT$200 tonight and NT$300 tomorrow. There's no cover Wednesday and Thursday
- 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
Exhibition
Beyond Fragrance and Fun: Tea Culture of China and Japan (鬥品團香 - 中日茶文化特展). Featuring a large collection of rarely seen artifacts related to tea culture that include tea-wares, tea-making utensils and documentary materials from China and Japan. The exhibition highlights the histories, arts and cultures of tea-drinking in the two countries as well as their differences, illustrated in the aesthetic development of tea-wares.
- 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 Sept. 30
The Retrospective Exhibition of Chiang Han-tung at 80 (江漢東八十回顧展). Featuring over 100 oil paintings, prints and early ink paintings by Chiang since 1926, the exhibition is held to celebrate the 80th birthday of the pioneering artist noted for his richly colored, visionary rendering of the folklore tradition. Having long suffered from serious eye problems, Chiang has devised a multi-perspective approach to his art that echoes Cubism.
- 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 Nov. 11
The Force Soldier: Solo Exhibition by Hsu Chia-yu (吃兵-許家瑜個展). Creating colorful, disproportional models of sweets and cakes crawling with ant-sized soldiers, the series of installation art pieces aims to ridicule the folly of war and also the foolishness of the desire to possess.
- 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; Saturday and Sunday from 9:30pm to 6pm. Call (02) 8677-2727
- Until Sept. 25
Painting - Kuo Hui-chan Solo Exhibition 2007 (郭慧禪2007年個展 - 繪畫). Employing digital techniques to combine video, 3D animation and traditional painting, artist Kuo turns to the mouse and keyboard to convey a central theme of self-exploration through a series of works licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
- Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間), 15-2, Ln 11, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei (中山北路二段11巷15-2號) Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 8pm. Call (02) 2561-1548
- Until Sept. 9
Wandering in the Poetry: The 2nd NCAF Techno Art Creation Project (科光幻影2007 - 詩路漫遊). Featuring works by five local artists who set out to utilize various technology-based media to comment on a variety of topics and issues. The exhibition serves as an example of the amazing intersection of art and technology.
- National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taichung (國立台灣美術館), 2 Wuchuan W Rd Sec 1, Taichung (台中市五權西路一段2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (04) 2372-3552
- Until Sept. 23
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