Theater
Film maestro Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮) returns to the stage after 27 years with Only You (只有你), which is composed of three monodramas starring Yang Kuei-mei (楊貴媚), Lu Yi-ching (陸弈靜) and Lee Kang-sheng (李康生). Pop songs from 1940s Shanghai connect the stories about three lonesome lives.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
Photo: Taipei Times
■ Yang’s monodrama is tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and Wednesday at 7:30pm, Lu’s is tonight, Monday and Thursday at 7:30pm, and Lee’s is tomorrow and Tuesday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$1,000 per show, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Billed as the first international improvisational dance festival in Taiwan, I-dance Taipei 2011 (愛跳舞即興節) begins this weekend with free outdoor performances by young artists. Wednesday and Thursday will feature jam sessions by groups and individual artists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the US. For more information, go to www.idancetaipei.tw.
Photo courtesy of New Aspect Peter-Lukas Graf
■ Outdoor performances take place at the URS27 Huashan Grand Green (URS27華山大草原) at the intersection of Linsen North Road (林森北路) and Beiping East Road (北平東路). The shows on Wednesday and Thursday take place at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Fruit Wine Building (果酒禮堂), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and Wednesday and Thursday at 7:45pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 for Wednesday and Thursday, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Photo courtesy of NTCH
Part of the ongoing 2011 Kuandu Arts Festival (關渡藝術節), Keskusteluja by WHS, a contemporary circus and visual theater group from Finland, is a new breed of circus performance that combines imagery, music, acrobatics and magic tricks. For more information about the festival, visit kdarts.tnua.edu.tw/festival.
■ Taipei National University of the Arts Theater (國立台北藝術大學展演藝術中心戲劇廳), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市學園路1號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For its newest production, A Benevolent Spirit (大願千秋), Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company (唐美雲歌仔戲團) teamed up with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立台灣交響樂團) to tell the story of a beneficent prince who chooses to leave fame and fortune behind and search for inner peace.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
W.A.V.E (W.A.V.E — 城市微幅) is a collaboration between dancer and choreographer Su Wen-chi (蘇文琪) and sound artist Chang Yung-ta (張永達) that explores the relationship between the human body, technology and urban spaces.
■ Plum Wine Factory (烏梅酒廠), Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm and 10pm, Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Peter-Lukas Graf Flute Recital (跨世紀長笛大師 — 葛拉夫長笛演奏會) brings one of the world’s great flutists to Taipei. Peter-Lukas Graf has been honored with a lifetime achievement award from the US’ National Flute Association and is numbered among the top three flautists of the 20th century. He will perform a program that includes Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, K.14, Schubert’s Sonata for Arpeggione in A Minor, D.821 and Khachaturian’s Concerto, adapted from Violin Concerto in D Minor. [See story on page 14.]
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
NSO 25 — Salute & Odes (非凡‧讚歌) presents the world premiere of Songs of Losses, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (失落之歌 — 給雙簧管及管絃樂團的協奏曲) by composer Yang Tsung-hsien (楊聰賢), to be performed by oboe soloist Hsieh Wan-chen (謝宛臻). The concert program will also include Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E Major. The National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) will be conducted by Ling Jahja (林望傑).
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Yung-nyen Tien Clarinet Recital (田永年單簧管獨奏會) presents emerging local talent Tien Yung-nyen (田永年) in a program that includes Charles-Marie Widor’s Introduction et Rondo, Op. 72, Louis Cahuzac’s Cantilene and Arlequin, and Debussy’s First Rhapsody.
■ Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
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 but tomorrow the venue hosts Mando-pop songwriter and TV singing show contest judge David Huang (黃大煒), whose show is titled Heaven and Hell. On Wednesday, Mongolian female singer Daiqing Tana takes to the stage with her band Haya, which won a Golden Melody Award several years ago for its debut album Wolf.
■ 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
■ Admission is NT$1,500 (NT$1,350 in advance) tomorrow, NT$600 (NT$500 in advance) on Wednesday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw and www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, tonight hosts Spanish indie folk songstress Russian Red, whose show is already sold out. Tomorrow night Dance Rock Taipei holds a Halloween party featuring DJs Brodinski, Gesaffelstein, Spykee Fat, Swing Child and Disko Kidz, among others [see The Vinyl Word]. Comedic indie rockers Wonfu (旺福樂團) take to the stage with their retro style of pop-friendly music on Sunday. On Thursday, slick 1970s-style garage rock band Okamoto’s shares the bill with beloved nakashi-punk group Loh Tsui Kweh Commune (濁水溪公社, LTK).
■ 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
■ All shows start at 8pm
■ Sold out tonight, NT$1,200 tomorrow, NT$500 on Sunday, NT$700 on Thursday (NT$500 in advance). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts garage rockers Mary See the Future. Acoustic acts Crispy and Cheshire Cat (柴郡貓) take to the stage tomorrow.
■ 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
Expat electro-rock duo Hi-Life Wedding shares the bill tonight with one-man electro-band Sonic Deadhorse at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Tomorrow the venue hosts a Halloween Party with a full lineup of metal bands, including Akiradeath, Samurai Chop of Japan,
Flesh Juicer, Revilement and Bazooka.
■ 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
Veteran jazz combo JEG (這個爵士樂團) plays standards, Latin, funk, rock and fusion tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s indie band Lese Qingnian (樂色青年) and nakashi punk favorites Loh Tsui Kweh Commune (濁水溪公社, LTK).
■ 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 on all other nights
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Indie-folk duo katncandix2 (棉花糖) performs tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). No shows are scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday as of press time.
■ 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$500 tonight. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts Bass in Your Face, featuring DJs Sylvain, Katrina, James Ho, Fion and Robin Lai. Tomorrow is the Soul, Sweat and Swank Halloween Party, with a NT$5,000 prize for the “fanciest” dressed. DJs include Duffy, Zulu and Bon Bon. [See the Vinyl Word.]
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance tonight is NT$250 if you’re wearing a costume (includes two drinks), NT$300 with no costume (includes one drink), NT$300 tomorrow, free if wearing fancy costume
Hsieh Ming-yen Quartet performs post-bop and avant-garde jazz tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow Ash and Friends perform modern jazz standards. Schedules for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were unavailable as of press time.
■ 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 NT$150 tomorrow, free other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include 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
Italian restaurant Capone’s hosts Taipei Swing’s weekly social on Fridays. All are welcome to join and a beginner’s lesson is offered at the start of the evening. Music is provided by electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). 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
Tomorrow, The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan, hosts Alice and Her Musicians, which play rock, pop and country hits.
■ 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
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
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