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Upcoming

Cuban singer Omara Portuondo returns to Taipei for a performance at the Taipei International Convention Center next Saturday, Sept. 27. Portuondo’s career spans more than 60 years, but it wasn’t until 1999 that she gained worldwide recognition for her part on the album and documentary Buena Vista Social Club.

Born and raised in Havana, Portuondo started out in the chorus line at the famous cabaret Tropicana, and then later pioneered a unique musical style that combined Cuban music, bossa nova and American jazz influences that came to be known as “Feeling.” Her singing also draws comparisons to French singer Edith Piaf.

Portuondo last played in Taipei in 2005, and her current tour coincides with a new, soon-to-be-released solo album.

Cuban singer Omara Portuondo at the Taipei International Convention Center (台北國際會議中心大會堂), 1, Xinyi Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市信義路五段1號)

▲Sept. 27 at 7:45pm

▲Tickets are NT$800 to NT$3,200

▲On the Net: www.ticket.com.tw

Theater

Avenue Q (喜樂社區) by Glorious Theater Company (耀演劇團) is based on the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name. The set and puppets are inspired by the children’s television show Sesame Street, but the themes are adult-oriented and address serious topics such as racism, pornography and homosexuality. The show, geared toward adults, includes full-puppet nudity.

▲Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu County (新竹縣文化局), 146, Xianzheng 9th Rd, Chubei City, Hsinchu County (新竹縣竹北市政九路146號)

▲Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm

▲Tickets are NT$350 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing



Tellus Theater continues its tradition of adapting classical Western theater to the stage with its version of Euripides’ Medea, the story of a woman who takes revenge on the husband who betrays her. The production is in English.

▲Lien Te Vegetarian Restaurant (蓮德品素天地), B1, 82 Ningpo W St, Taipei City (台北市寧波西街82號B1)

▲Tomorrow at 3pm and 7pm and Sunday at 3pm

▲Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing



Heart of Ocean (海洋之心) is a diabolo dance performance by Diabolo Dance Theater (舞鈴劇場) that portrays life underwater.

Sinjhuang Cultural Arts Center (新莊文化藝術中心), 133 Jhongping Rd, Sinjhuang City, Taipei County (台北縣新莊市中平路133號)

▲Tomorrow at 7:30pm

▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$900, available through NTCH ticketing



Open Sesame! Merrily Go Around the World With Wu Ding the Wizard (巫頂環遊世界) is a puppet theater production by the Paper Windmill Theater Troupe (紙風車劇團) that features a wizard who travels around the world.

▲Tainan Municipal Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心演藝廳), 332, Chunghua E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332)

▲Tomorrow at 7:30pm

▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$750, available through NTCH ticketing



The Zen drumming group U-Theater (優人神鼓) commemorates its 20th anniversary walk around Taiwan with The Walk, which tells the story of the sights and sounds of their journey and the people they met.

▲Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm at the National Theater (國家戲劇院), 21-1, Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號).

▲Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing



Classical music

12th International Taipei Chopin Piano Competition — Final Round (2008年第十二屆國際台北蕭邦鋼琴大賽 — 決賽) takes place this weekend and includes the semifinals and finals of the junior and youth divisions. The competition began this year with 364 contestants, with performers from Poland, Germany, France, Russia, the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan and South Korea. The award ceremony will be held at 7:30pm on Sunday.

▲Today and tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7pm

▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City

▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500 per session



2008 Liu Hui-shan Piano Recital (劉惠珊2008鋼琴音樂會) sees Liu Hui-shan (劉惠珊), a graduate of Mannes College of Music in New York, return to her homeland to perform a program that will include Chopin’s 4 Ballades, Beethoven’s Sonata Op.27, Nr.2, Ravel’s Jeux d’eau and Rachmaninoff’s Liebesfreud.

▲Monday at 7:30pm

▲National Recital Hall, Taipei City

▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500, available through ERA ticketing



Liebe und Tod — Current Chapter (愛與死—時代篇) brings together dancers and musicians to create expressionist work that looks at the themes of love and death. The performance will be presented by the Yinqi Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (音契合唱管絃樂團) under Chin Hsi-wen (金希文), with guests Hsu Chien-tai (羅明芳), soprano, and Weng Ruo-pei (翁若�?mezzo soprano. Dance choreography is by Chen Chiu-yin (陳秋吟).

▲Wednesday at 7:30pm

▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City

▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through ERA ticketing



Music Forum Weekend Music Series — Tang Yi-ting Cello Recital (十方樂集週末音樂會系列—湯懿庭大提琴獨奏會) presents local cellist Tang Yi-ting (湯懿庭), who will perform a program that includes Grieg’s Sonata for Violoncello and Piano in A Minor, Op.36, Glazunov’s Chant du menestrel, Popper’s Ungarische Rhapsodie, Op.68 and Borodin’s String Quartet No.1 Mov.1 and 3.

▲Today at 7:30pm

▲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)

▲Tickets are NT$250, available through NTCH ticketing



Contemporary

Jazz Your Mind takes to the stage tonight at Sappho de Base, a favored late-night venue for impromptu jazz sessions. Tomorrow night is surf-rock and blues from the Blues Vibrations. On Tuesday night the Grace Jazz Trio plays a set, with an open jam afterwards. Wednesday features the Chris Stiles Jazz Trio. Double J Band performs on Thursday.

B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit www.sappho102.biz for more information

Performances begin at 10:30pm on weekends and 10pm on weekdays

No entrance fee

Alternative folk-rocker Deserts Chang (張懸) plays at the The Wall (這牆) tonight, while Aboriginal pop-rock band Totem (圖騰) appears tomorrow night. Playing on Sunday is Japanese acoustic-electronica duo Mondialito (夢的朵雅), whose vocalist Junko Nashimura sings exclusively in French with a whispery timbre.

▲B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.the-wall.com.tw for more information

▲8pm tonight and tomorrow; 7pm on Sunday (doors open at 6:30pm)

▲NT$450 tonight and tomorrow; tickets for Sunday’s show are NT$750 in advance, or NT$900 at the door



At Underworld (地下社會) tonight Shishukong (屍術控) and industrial band 2*43 take to the stage. Tomorrow night Nuin 8 and Capelin (柳葉魚樂團) fill the venue with a post-rock atmosphere. Wednesday night is a punk and deathcore party with Ashen, Angry Young Man (生氣的年輕人), Use Pen to Sing (用筆來唱歌) and Total Disruption.

▲B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information

▲Live shows go from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. The bar is open from 8pm daily, closed Mondays

▲Entrance tonight and tomorrow is NT$300 and includes one drink; entrance on Wednesday is NT$100 and does not include a drink

Guitarist Hao-en (昊恩) and vocalist Jia-jia (家家) perform a fusion of blues, jazz and their native Puyuma music tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Rebel rocker-turned-mainstream-folk idol Chen Ming-chang and the Tamsui River Band (陳明章與淡水走唱團) appear tomorrow night. On Thursday alt-rock group Neon takes to the stage.

▲7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For more information, call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org

▲Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays

▲NT$300 entrance includes one drink



Metamorphosis (變形蟲爵士樂團), one of the first jazz groups in Taiwan to perform and record original music, plays tonight at Riverside Cafe. Indie-folk duo UTA (屋塔樂團) appears tomorrow along with indie-rockers Bearbabes (熊寶貝). On Sunday, in the early evening, pop singer Alan Kuo (柯有綸) performs in a benefit for the victims of the 9/21 earthquake. Later on Sunday, Puyuma acoustic duo Hao-en (昊恩) and Jia-jia (家家) take to the stage.

▲B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓). Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information

▲Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm tomorrow, 5pm and 9pm on Sunday

▲NT$350 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow, NT$450 for early show on Sunday and NT$400 for late show; admission includes one free drink



There are two music sets tonight and tomorrow at VU Live House. Tonight starts off with Japanese rock from Kiri and Friends and then pop rock from Clockworker (發條人) and OK Bomb. Later on, it’s The Get Down with D.Soto, Tom Leeming and DJ Zulu. Early tomorrow it’s Zakura, a Japanese rock band, slow rock from Coma and melodic alt-rock from Cigarette Band (哈根草). The second set features Full Count, The Mash, Explosive (爆物) and, once again, Cigarette Band (哈根草).

▲B1, 77 Wuchang St, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 for more information

▲First sets start at 7:30pm, second sets at 10pm

▲NT$400 per set tonight and tomorrow; cover for the first set includes one free drink, cover for the second set includes two free drinks



Tonight at Tone 56 Live Bar, a new restaurant near the corner of Fuxing North and Minquan East roads, it’s the Rubber Band, which plays rock, pop, and dance music every Friday. Tomorrow it’s house band Loaded, which plays everything from “rock classics to today’s hits.” Every Sunday features a regular rotation of groups; this week it’s surf rock from the Blues Vibrations.

▲1F, 56, Minquan E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市民權東路三段56號1樓), near the corner of Fuxing North Road (復興北路) and Minquan East Road (民權東路)

▲Call (02) 2517-3869 for more information

▲Music shows go from 9:30pm to 12:30pm tonight and tomorrow, and 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Sundays

▲No entrance fee



Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s a blues open mic, held by the Blues Society on Taiwan and hosted by Torch Pratt. All are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in on guitar, bass, or drums.

▲1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Call (02) 2508-0304 or visit www.cosmo.com.tw for more information

▲8pm to 11pm every Wednesday

▲Free admission



Exhibition

Taipei 2008 Mammoth Exhibition (長毛象特展). This large-scale exhibition of more than 140 displays about the extinct animal includes two well-preserved remains of mammoths on loan from the Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk, the capital city of the Sakha Republic. One is a 40-year-old male, named Yukagir, and the other is a one-year-old female, named Oymiakon, which were unearthed four years ago and date back to 30,000 years ago.

▲National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (台灣民主紀念館), 21 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21號). Open Mondays through Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2343-1146 for more information

▲Until Nov. 4



Gwangju Museum of Art in Korea Exchange Program — Si Young Jin and Tae Yun Kong Solo Exhibitions (韓國光州美術館交換計畫—晉始瑩、孔泰硯雙個展). Two Wheels by Si Young Jin mixes old and new images of Taipei. Tae Yun Kong’s Tie’s section features installation pieces made from trash.

▲Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號). Open Mondays through Sundays from 10am to 7:30pm. Call (02) 3393-7377 for more information

▲Until Sept. 28



This is Not a Fairytale — Contemporary Thai Art Exhibition (這不是童話—泰國當代藝術群展). Put together by veteran Bangkok curator Ark Fongsmut, this exhibition features video art, sculpture, photography and installation works by seven contemporary artists from Thailand known for their sharp observations and critiques of their country’s present-day society.

▲Soka Art Center Taipei (台北索卡藝術中心), 2F, 57, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段57號2樓). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11am to 9pm. Call (02) 2570-0390 for more information

▲Until Sept. 28



Flowering — Chen Chien-ron Solo Exhibition (顫顫花開—陳建蓉個展). It took Chen three years to complete the Flowering series, in which the well-known “peony” paintings by Hsu His (徐熙), who lived during China’s Five Dynasties period, are deconstructed and reconstructed using contemporary visual vocabularies and cultural contexts.

▲Pacific Cultural Foundation (太平洋文化基金會藝術中心), B1, 38, Chongching S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市重慶南路三段38號B1). Open Mondays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2337-7155 for more information

▲Until Sept. 27



Liu Han-wen Solo Exhibition (嬉色遊彩—劉漢文個展). Liu, an interior designer, makes bold visual innovations in his watercolor paintings by juxtaposing realistic and virtual spaces, giving his works a playful feel by adding fairytale-like metaphors and symbols.

▲Cathay United Art Center (國泰世華藝術中心), 7F, 236 Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北路236號7樓). Open Mondays through Saturdays from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2717-0988 for more information

▲Until Sept. 27

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