Thearter
Shanghai Yueju Opera House (上海越劇院) has put together a top-notch cast of performers for its Taipei shows of operatic classics including Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢), Butterfly Lovers (梁山伯與祝音台) and The West Chamber (西廂記). The Yue style of opera was originally sung in the dialect of the Shaoxing region of Zhejiang Province.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
photo courtesy of Ars Formosa Company
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Led by prominent choreographer Ku Ming-shen (古名伸), Ku & Dancers (古舞團) demonstrates its years-long practice and study of improvisatory dance with Dance Landscape (舞蹈風景).
Photo: Taipei Times
■ Outdoor plaza at Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號)
■ Tomorrow at 6pm
■ Free admission
Modern Arts Dance Theater’s (極至體能舞蹈團) Little Green Man (小綠人) transforms the stage into a crossroad where performers give glimpses into lives of characters including a curious traveler, a young lover and a lonely old man.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday
at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Take Care, Taipei Blooming Theater’s (台北小花劇團) debut production, explores the theme of companionship and caretaking through a story that revolves around a lesbian couple and a stray cat. Founded by seasoned director and actress Hsu Yen-ling (徐堰鈴), the new group aims to give a platform to female artists.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A Paper Windmill Theater Troupe’s (紙風車劇團) Chicken Story (雞城故事) is a children’s musical in which rival families the McChickens and Kentucky Chickens learn to work together and share with each other.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday
at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$250 to NT$1,100, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical music
Concert in Triple C (水藍的C調樂章) sees the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立台灣交響樂團) performing with cellist Wang Chien
(王健) under the direction of Lan Shui
(水藍). The program includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C Minor.
■ Today at 7:30pm (Taipei) and tomorrow at 7:30pm (Taichung)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and Chunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung (台中中興堂), 291-3 Jingwu Rd, Greater Taichung (台中市精武路291之3號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 for both Taipei and Taichung, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra — 2011 WASBE Taiwan Concert (日本東京佼成管樂團 — 2011 WASBE臺灣巡迴演出) brings the highly acclaimed orchestra and saxophonist Yasuto Tanaka to Taipei to perform under the direction of Paul Meyer. The program includes work by the Japanese composer Toshio Mashima.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$5,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
The Ho-Hai-Yan Gongliao Rock Festival (新北市貢寮國際海洋音樂祭) continues through Sunday at Fulong Beach (福隆海灘) in New Taipei City. Today’s lineup includes reggae-rocker Matzka (瑪斯卡), Samingad (紀曉君), 1976 and Cheer Chen (陳綺貞). Tomorrow is the event’s annual battle of the bands competition, while Sunday features international acts including garage rock duo The Inspector Cluzo of France and UK indie pop band Kyte. Taiwan indie pop faves Sodagreen (蘇打綠) close the festival. For a full schedule, see page 13 of last Friday’s Taipei Times.
■ Getting there: The New Taipei City Government recommends using Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) trains to get to Ho-Hai-Yan. Additional services have been scheduled between Taipei Main Station and Fulong throughout the festival. Trains run several times every hour between 11:30am and 9:30pm, with the last train leaving from Fulong to Taipei around midnight. View or download the full railway schedule (in Chinese only) at www.2011hohaiyan.tw/media/12traffic.doc
■ Shows start at 3pm
■ Entrance is free
The Red House Theater (西門紅樓) in Ximending is hosting a “sound experience weekend.” Scott Prairie plays rock and pop with his band tonight, and the singer-songwriter returns tomorrow for a performance with A Moving Sound (聲動劇場), the popular world music troupe he co-founded with Mia Hsieh (謝韻雅). On Sunday afternoon, Hsieh and Prairie lead a performance with a group of singers engaging in vocal improvisations and a “spa of sounds,” which includes crystal singing bowls, overtone singing and Hawaiian Aboriginal chanting (arrive early to get a free shampoo product and herbal tea).
■ 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號)
■ 8pm tonight and tomorrow, 3:30pm on Sunday.
■ NT$600 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.ticket.com.tw
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. No shows are scheduled tonight as of press time. Chinese singer Della, aka Ring (丁噹), visits Taiwan for a run of two shows tomorrow and Sunday. Geek-chic rocker Crowd Lu (盧廣仲) takes to the stage on Thursday to promote his new album.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ NT$1,000 (NT$800 in advance) tomorrow, Sunday and Thursday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, tonight hosts neo-folk singer Enno Cheng (鄭宜農), who is throwing a CD release party. Tomorrow Dance Rock Taipei presents Bass, with DJs Dino, Amber and Madbrain. On Thursday, post-rock group Cicada heads a triple-bill that includes Donkey’s Ears (驢子耳朵) and Double Cheese (大波起司).
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1), tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ NT$600 (NT$500 in advance) tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and NT$400 (NT$300 in advance) on Thursday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts Siyu Sitar (西尤樂團), a group led by Aboriginal musician and sitar player Wushi Azer (屋希耶澤). The band’s sound combines sitar music with electronica and free jazz. Taiwanese folk legend Chen Ming-chang (陳明章) takes to the stage tomorrow night. Expat jazz trio I Have a New Band Now performs on Thursday, splitting the bill with Belgian expat Pierre Hujoel, who performs experimental pop sung in Mandarin and goes by the name Hu Yue (胡月).
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows 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
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
No shows are scheduled at Revolver this week, as the venue has temporarily moved to Fulong Beach for the Ho-Hai-Yan Gongliao Rock Festival (新北市貢寮國際海洋音樂祭). Its Ho-Hai-Yan afterparty features DJs LEO37, Robi Rocka and Robin Lai tonight, garage rockers The Deadly Vibes and DJs Marcus Aurelius and Colour Wolf tomorrow, and flamenco band Alma Itana on Sunday. Last week the Taipei Times printed the incorrect lineup for this venue. Alma Itana performed on Friday last week and DJ Zulu and saxophonist Kevin Mauder played on Saturday. The Taipei Times regrets the error.
■ Revolver Fulong, 56 Fulong St, Gongliao Dist, New Taipei City (新北市貢寮區福隆街56號)
■ Performances start at 10pm
■ Admission is free
Yu Kuan-hua (于冠華) is among a group of singers performing tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) to promote a new CD dedicated to Liu Wei-jen (劉偉仁), who passed away late last month. What Century (花世紀), an outfit of 20-year-old pop musicians, takes to the stage tomorrow. On Sunday, it’s female crooner Hsieh Yi-wen (謝苡雯) and Aboriginal singer Leo Chen (陳永龍). On Monday, the venue hosts its weekly open jam.
■ 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), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
A trio of up-and-coming indie bands play tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館): Trash, MSAYS and Coconuts (椰子). Tomorrow it’s Mando-popper Evan Yo (蔡旻佑). On Tuesday, the venue hosts Encounters of Astor Piazzolla, an evening of tango music played by a quintet that includes a bandoneon player.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8:30pm
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow and NT$300 on Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Dizzy and A-yao Wants to Poop (阿堯想大便) play tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Tomorrow grunge rock band KoOk (庫克樂團) plays two sets. On Wednesday, the venue hosts indie pop groups Bantam! (矮腳雞) and Wuwu Shen (五五身).
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesday and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
The Kenyatta Quartet plays rock and New Orleans funk tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Pianist Elin Lee (李宜玲) leads a quintet tomorrow night. T.M.S. Trio performs on Tuesday and Wild Cactus Jazz appears on Wednesday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow, free on other nights
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s, with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels welcome. Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Wednesday nights, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas and bassist Rick Taira.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts folk rock band Red Cliff and blues and funk group Blues Vibrations tomorrow night.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Tomorrow at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400, which includes one drink
Expat blues rock group The Rising Hedons perform tonight at
Mellow Coffee in Banciao.
■ 158 Juguang Rd, Banciao Dist, New Taipei City (新北市板橋區莒光路158號)
■ Tonight from 7pm to 9pm
■ Entrance is free with purchase of drink
Country and western band 3 Acres Plowed performs tomorrow night at The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan.
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區).
Indie pop stalwarts 1976 take to the stage tomorrow night.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$400 tomorrow
No shows are scheduled this weekend at The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, but the venue is open tomorrow to host the awards ceremony for the 48 Hour Film Project. See page 13 of the May 16 edition of the Taipei Times for more information.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
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
Located down a sideroad in old Wanhua District (萬華區), Waley Art (水谷藝術) has an established reputation for curating some of the more provocative indie art exhibitions in Taipei. And this month is no exception. Beyond the innocuous facade of a shophouse, the full three stories of the gallery space (including the basement) have been taken over by photographs, installation videos and abstract images courtesy of two creatives who hail from the opposite ends of the earth, Taiwan’s Hsu Yi-ting (許懿婷) and Germany’s Benjamin Janzen. “In 2019, I had an art residency in Europe,” Hsu says. “I met Benjamin in the lobby
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
A fossil jawbone found by a British girl and her father on a beach in Somerset, England belongs to a gigantic marine reptile dating to 202 million years ago that appears to have been among the largest animals ever on Earth. Researchers said on Wednesday the bone, called a surangular, was from a type of ocean-going reptile called an ichthyosaur. Based on its dimensions compared to the same bone in closely related ichthyosaurs, the researchers estimated that the Triassic Period creature, which they named Ichthyotitan severnensis, was between 22-26 meters long. That would make it perhaps the largest-known marine reptile and would