Theater
P.I.G by Morning Star Theater (晨星劇團) tells the story of a how the inhabitants of a quiet village in the middle of a forest encounter a natural disaster and manage to pull through by pooling their resources.
-The Music Hall of the Chiayi Municipal Cultural Center (嘉義市文化中心音樂廳), 275 Chunghsiao Rd, Chiayi City (嘉義市忠孝路275號)
-Tonight at 7:30pm
-Tickets are NT$200 to NT$400 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw (Note: NT$200 tickets are already sold out)
Rhinoceros is an experimental theater piece by International Dateline Company (換日線劇團) that is based on the original play by the master of Theater of the Absurd, Eugene Ionesco. Like the original work, the current production is meant to be a statement about people's willingness to conform and society's inability to think rationally. It is a statement on Taiwan's political culture and the emotions that keep it running.
-Taiwan University of the Arts Experimental Theater (台灣藝術大學實驗劇場), 59 Daguan Rd Sec 1, Banciao City, Taipei County (台北縣板橋市大觀路一段59號)
-Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
-Tickets are NT$400 are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Hayavadana is one of Girish Karnad's most popular plays. It sees its Taipei debut performed by EX-Theater Asia (亞洲劇團) and directed by Chongtham Jayanta Meetei. With a text that begs experimentation, the plot and sub-plot intertwine to explore existential questions. The main plot follows the story of Hayavadana, a horse-headed man whose quest for wholeness underscores the play's exploration of identity and reality.
-Crown Theater, B1, 50, Lane 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei (台北市敦化北路120巷50號B1)
-Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2pm
-Tickets are NT$350 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical Music
Hsin Hsing-chwen Piano Recital (辛幸純鋼琴獨奏會). Hsin received her early musical training in Taiwan. She left at age 13 to attend the Yehudi Menuhin School in England as a protege of Baroness Fe Bland and later studied at the Royal College of Music in London. She pursued her studies in the US and received her MFA from UCLA and doctorate in musical arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Hsin is currently chair and professor at the Institute of Music, National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. The program of works will include Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin, Lee Tzyy-Sheng's (李子聲) South Muse IIX (南。樂IIX), and Granados'Goyescas (歌雅畫景).
-Tonight 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 Xianfu Rd, Taoyuan City (桃園市縣府路21號); Wednesday at the National Recital Hall, Taipei; and Thursday at the National Chiao Tung University Arts Center (交通大學藝文中心), 1001 Tahsueh Rd, Hsinchu City (新竹市大學路1001號)
-Free admission for the Taoyuan concert. For the Hsinchu concert, tickets cost NT$100 for students, NT$200 for the general public and are available through National Chiao Tung University Library and Student Union (交通大學浩然圖書館與活動中心) at (03) 571-2121 X52666 or X59056. For detailed information, call organizer Asia Music & Arts (亞藝藝術) at (02) 2369-4802
-Tonight, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm
2007 Sung Wei-te Clarinet Recital (2007宋威德單簧管獨奏會). Sung is associate professor of clarinet in the Music Department, National Taiwan Normal University. Joined by pianist Lai Ru-lin (賴如琳), Sung will present a program of works by German and Austrian composers, including Bela Kovacs' Hommages a Bach (clarinet solo), Franz Danzi's Fantasy from "Don Giovanni" (clarinet and piano), Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, KV581 (for basset clarinet and piano), Brahms' Sonata No.2, Op.120 (for clarinet and piano), and Weber's Fantasia and Rondo, Op.34 (for clarinet and piano).
-At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
-As of press time, NT$200 tickets are sold out, but NT$300 seats are still available through NTCH ticketing
-Tomorrow at 2:30pm
Wiener Staatsoper Vienna State Opera performs Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro in Four Acts (concert and performance). Under the direction of world-renowned Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, the orchestra, choir and soloists of the Vienna State Opera will come to Taiwan for the first time to present Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro in Four Acts. See www.wiener-staatsoper.com.tw for details.
-Tomorrow and Sunday at the National Concert Hall, Taipei, and Monday at Kaohsiung Cultural Center's Chih-teh Hall (高雄中正文化中心至德堂), 67, Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號).
-As of press time, NT$2,500 to NT$8,000 tickets for both Taipei concerts are sold out, but seats are still available from NT$10,000 to NT$20,000. For the Kaohsiung concert, NT$2,500 and NT$3,500 tickets are sold out, but seats are still available from NT$6,000 to NT$20,000 through ERA ticketing
-Tomorrow, Sunday and Monday at 7:30pm
Cheng Chi-hua Soprano Recital (鄭琪樺2007獨唱會). Cheng is a world-renowned soprano known for her delicate and dramatic operatic voice. Her Hsinchu concert held last Thursday was well received by the audience. She will hold another two concerts in Taipei County this Sunday and in Taipei City on Sept. 30. Joined by pianist Fan Chen-ling (范珍綾), guitarist Su Meng-feng (蘇孟風), and flutist Huang Chen-ying (黃貞瑛), Cheng will sing a program of works including Scarlatti's Cantata Solitudine avvenne; Respighi's Deita Silvane; Rossini's Aragonese, La Fioraia Fiorentina and La danza; Chausson's Serenade Italienne, Le Colibri and La Cigale; Selections from Argento's Letters From Composers, and Chinese ballads.
-Sunday at the Taipei County Hakka Museum (台北縣客家文化園區), 239 Longen St, Sansia Township, Taipei County (台北縣三峽鎮龍埔里隆恩街239號) and Sept. 30 at the National Recital Hall, Taipei
-Free admission for the Taipei County concert. For the Taipei City concert, tickets range from NT$300 to NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing
-Sunday and Sept. 30 at 2:30pm
Tamas Vasary Piano Recital (瓦薩里鋼琴獨奏會). Vasary is a Swiss pianist and conductor of Hungarian birth. He won the Franz Liszt Competition in Budapest in 1948. Having left Hungary in 1956 and settled in Switzerland, he made his debut in Western Europe in 1960. Vasary has made many recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, particularly of the Romantic repertoire, especially Chopin. He has also been music director of the Northern Sinfonia and principal conductor of the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, and has guest-conducted many of the principal British orchestras as well as appearing regularly in the US and elsewhere as pianist and conductor. He will present a program of works, including Schumann's Carnival, Op.9; Beethoven's sonata Apassionata, Op.57; Chopin's Ballade No.1 in G Minor, Op.23, Nocturne in F-Sharp Major, Op.15-2 and Scherzo No.2 in B-Flat minor, Op.31 and Liszt's Consolation No.3 in D-Flat Major and Rigoletto Paraphrase de Concert.
-At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
-As of press time, NT$500 to NT$800 tickets are sold out, but NT$1,000 to NT$1,800 seats are still available through NTCH ticketing
-Thursday at 7:30pm
Event
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, a free concert featuring high-profile local acts such as Jolin Tsai (蔡依林), Nicky Lee (李玖哲), Lollypop (棒棒堂), Shin (信樂團), Happy Combo (快樂幫), FIR (飛兒樂) and FanFan (范瑋琪) will be hosted by Taipei City Government, Cathay Bank, Taipei Radio and Taipei Metro
-At the river park opposite Taipei Zoo Gondola Station
-The event will be held between 6pm and 8pm on Monday, Mid-Autumn Festival eve
Contemporary
The O-Brothaz sound system hosts Thursday Reggae Oasis every Thursday night at Club Plan B. The weekly event features Caribbean food, drinks, DJ Taili from France and Japanese DJ Katzu spinning roots reggae.
-There is no cover and all drinks are NT$150
-9pm to 1am
-29-1 Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市安和路一段29號之1). Call (02) 2775-5855 or visit www.obrothaz.com for more information
Underworld (地下社會) features indie-rock bands Peppermint (薄荷葉) and Mosquilephant (蚊子大象) tonight. Tomorrow noise rock band Black Faith With Sonic Pace (黑色信念跟隨著音速腳步) takes the stage, followed by Brit-pop emulators Bitter. Garage-rock band Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢) and indie-rock band Lucky Pie (拉奇派) play Wednesday.
-Bands start playing around 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm to 4am on weekdays and 5am on weekends. It is closed on Mondays.
-Entrance for shows is NT$300 and includes one free drink
-B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
Tonight at Bliss it's the The Mad Georges, who blend original songs with covers, spanning rock influences from the 1970s to the present. Tomorrow the pub hosts indie-rock band The Braces (牙套), funk-rock four-piece Da Bones (骨頭), and Kenny From Casino (賭場肯尼), which combines emo, punk, Brit pop, hip-hop and garage elements in its music.
-Performances start at 10pm
-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 visit at www.bliss-taipei.com
Soler - a Hong Kong-based band formed by twin brothers Julio and Dino Acconci, who blend rock, soul and folk, and sing in Cantonese, English and Mandarin - performs tonight at The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow there's a The Chairman (董事長) mini-concert. Kaohsiung ska/punk outfit Kicking the Apple Shyly (害羞踢蘋果), Taichung punk band Damn Kidz, happy punks Maho (馬猴) and spastic punks 88 Guava Seeds (88顆芭樂籽) shake the stage on Sunday. Alt-rock band Johnny and Eeyore, Inverse Hand (逆指針), a band with a French disco-funk groove and rapid guitar licks and post-rock band Emily (艾蜜莉) play Wednesday.
-Entrance tonight, Sunday and Wednesday is NT$300. Tomorrow is NT$400. Admission includes one free drink
-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
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts G.J.O. Big Band: Groovin' Jazz Orchestra (搖擺爵士大樂團) tonight. Aboriginal pop-rock band Totem (圖騰) perform tomorrow. On Sunday it's indie-rock bands Freckles (雀斑) and Lucky Q. Monday is open-jam night. New Yorker (紐約客) and alt-rock band Rock Bang (洛客班) play on Tuesday. Singer-songwriter Deserts Chang (張懸) performs on Wednesday with her band. Then it's Unsafe and indie-pop singer Bibi Chao (趙之璧) with her band on Thursday.
-Shows start at 9:30pm
-Entrance tonight and Wednesday is NT$400. Tomorrow, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday is NT$350. On Monday there is a one-drink minimum
-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 Living Room (小客廳) presents acoustic guitarist Allen Loo (盧家宏), Pure Pie (醇樂派), which plays bossa nova, and rock band Fire in Blue. Red Flower (紅花) and Cloud Gate Theater dancer Wu Pei-shan (吳佩珊), also known as Devin, perform tomorrow. Tuesday, as usual, is tarot night with Eiffel (塔羅老師艾菲爾). On Wednesday there's a production by Tellus Theater followed by music from Drunk Duo (酒客二人組). And on Thursday there's a dinner magic show (晚餐魔術秀).
-Performances start tonight and tomorrow at 8pm. Tuesday's tarot runs from 7:30pm to midnight. Wednesday's theater is from 9:30pm to 10:30pm, followed by the music from 10:30pm to midnight. Thursday's magic is from 6:30pm to 9pm
-Entrance is NT$300 for the bands and theater. There is a minimum NT$1,000 charge for the tarot. The magic show is NT$500
-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
At Grooveyard in Taichung, Friday night is Salsa Night. Professional instructors teach salsa and merengue to the tune of Cuban music. Tomorrow it's Taichung expat rock band .22. Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday, which is ladies night with drink specials for women. Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night.
-Salsa night runs from 8pm to 10pm. Tomorrow's live music starts at 9:30pm. Rogers takes the stage at 10pm on Wednesday. Open-mic night starts at 9pm
-Grooveyard's cover is NT$200 tonight and NT$300 tomorrow. On Sunday an NT$200 donation is required. 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號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information.
The musical caravan of wandering Japanese musicians Waka (tabla) and Yo (sitar), along with guitarist Saddik and violinist Janelle travels to The Londoner in Taichung tonight. Their group is called Chartal and it is inspired by the melodies of the Silk Road. They play North Indian and Uighur classics, a fusion of improvisational styles that unites Indian, Central Asian and Flamenco music, and ancient global classics mixed with modern jazz, contemporary folk and various popular styles.
-The performance starts at 9pm
-The Londoner is located at 143, W Huamei St Sec 3, Taichung (台中市華美西街一段143號).Call (04) 2314-6919 or visit www.londoner.com.tw for more information about the venue. The band's Web site is www.myspace.com/chartal
Exhibition
Memory Fields - Solo Exhibition by Lee Yanor (憶域 - 李雅諾影像展). Introducing the Israeli female video artist to local audiences, the exhibition is made up of three parts. First is her video work called Coffee with Pina that serves as a personal and spiritual recording of Pina Bausch and her rehearsal room. The video installation Cloud 9 uses nine projectors to capture the transient moments of dancers' bodies, light and shades and the photographic series Rites of Spring freezes the poetry of memory.
-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. 18
Breaking Through the Surface - Dialogue Between Design and Art (穿越表層 - 設計與藝術的對話). Featuring works by five artists and an art group in Taiwan, the exhibition aims to re-examine the relationship between land, nature and human beings. Divided into two sections titled Flexible Space and Co-existence and Reproduction in Nature, the art works examine alternatives to modernity. Two lectures will be held on Oct. 7 to expand on the exhibition.
-Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間), 15-2, Lane 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 Oct. 7
New Vision/New Image of Kunqu Peony Pavilion (牡丹亦白). The photo exhibition showcases the cream of over 100,000 photographs taken by veteran photographer Johnson Hsu (許培鴻) while traveling with Kenneth Pai's (白先勇) kunqu (崑曲) production of The Peony Pavilion, taking in Hong Kong, China and the US over the past three years and capturing the essence of the theater both on and off stage. Hsu will hold a free lecture both on the exhibition and his touring experiences on Sunday from 2pm to 3:30pm. To make reservations, call (02) 2375-5905
-Meimen Gallery (梅門賞廳), 5F, 104 Zhonghua Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市中華路一段104號5樓). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30am to 8:30pm. Call (02) 2311-7212
-Until Nov. 3
Fancying Self as Taiwanese Group Exhibition (自以為是台灣人). The exhibition features oil portraits with a nod to realism. The four invited young artists draw on Taiwanese cultural phenomena such as taike (台客) chic and the Strawberry Generation.
-AKI Gallery (也趣), 4, Lane 140, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 7, Taipei (台北市中山北路七段140巷4號). Open Tuesday to Thursday from 1pm to 9pm; Friday to Sunday from 11am to 10:30pm. Call (02) 2872-5296
-Until Sept. 30
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