Theater
The dance collective Horse (驫舞劇場) has teamed up with French sound artist Yannick Dauby and his friends from Volume-Collectif for an ambitious three-weekend audio-visual installation and dance project at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914). In Successor (繼承者), Horse’s dancers will perform a different show each weekend, while Dauby and team create an interactive soundscape for them to dance to and interact with. A pre-recorded sound installation will be open during the days that performances will be held.
■ Tonight through Nov. 27 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30pm
Photo courtesy of Horse Dance Theatre
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Taipei
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing, online at www.artsticket.com.tw, at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks or at the door
■ The environmental landscape installation is open from 10am to 5pm today through Nov. 27 on show days. Admission is NT$100; available as above
Illustration: Blake Carter, Taipei Times
Over the past decade, the Tamsui-based G.M.T. Dance Company (谷慕特舞蹈劇場) has worked to create a unique fusion of Taiwan’s Aboriginal culture, song and dance with contemporary modern dance. To celebrate the troupe’s 10th anniversary, founder and artistic director Kumud decided to stage a passion play, one that reflects the importance of Christianity to modern Aboriginal life and the ability of love to soothe an anxious heart and world, which might account for the unusual venue for the Taipei performances of Made in Heaven II — Love Story (來自天堂II─愛的聖餐): the Holy Family Catholic Church.
■ Tonight at 7:20pm and tomorrow at 8pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, 50, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市新生南路二段50號)
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing, online at www.artsticket.com.tw or at the door
Founded in 1680, La Comedie-Francaise is one of the oldest and most prestigious state theaters in the world. For its first visit to Taiwan, the company brings Le Malade Imaginaire, a celebrated work by founding member and playwright Moliere about the tragicomical life of a hypochondriac.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For its latest production, Intervention (介入), Scarecrow Contemporary Dance Company mixes dance and theater to explore the relationship between body and clothes.
■ 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
Directed by veteran theater director Miguel Li (黎煥雄), scored by Chen Chien-chi (陳建騏) and with Chang Po-chih’s (張博智) new media installation piece, Tender Blackmail (黑信) examines the idea of communication in William Shakespeare works.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tonight at 7:45pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:45pm, and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Soudant and Shin Hyun-su (拼湊.美麗與哀愁) has the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) performing a program that includes Cesar Frank’s Symphony in D Minor, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture Fantasy. The performance will feature violinist Shin Hyun-su and the orchestra will be conducted by guest conductor Hubert Soudant.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Flow of Musical Colors (流動的彩繪音樂) features violinist Sarah Chang performing with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立台灣交響樂團) under guest conductor Fusao Kajima. The program includes Takashi Yoshimatsu’s Dream Colored Mobile II, Op. 581, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47, and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Taichung) and Sunday at 7:30pm (Kaohsiung)
■ 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) and Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chihteh Hall (高雄市立文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Greater Kaohsiung, (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 for both venues; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
NSO New Frontier — Rabsodie Noire (NSO探索系列.黑色狂想) presents clarinetist Sacha Rattle in concert with the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) under the baton of guest conductor Joolz Gale. The program will include Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, Debussy’s Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra, Copland’s Clarinet Concerto and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight, it’s pop rock groups MEC Band and Adman Band along with female pop acts Shino Lin (林曉培) and Dream Girls (宅男女神). Tomorrow indie rock group the Bearbabes (熊寶貝樂團), Taiwan’s answer to honest-to-goodness American Midwestern alterative rock, takes to the stage. The band shares the bill with Come on! Bay Bay! (來吧!焙焙!), which has an indie-pop sound along the lines of Belle and Sebastian. On Wednesday, the venue hosts Lie Gramophone (謊言留聲機) and electro-rockers The Shine and Shine and Shine and Shine (閃閃閃閃).
■ 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 tonight and tomorrow and 7:30pm on Wednesday.
■ NT$800 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance) and NT$500 on Wednesday (NT$400 in advance). 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
Tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, veteran alt-rockers The Chairman (董事長) hold a memorial tribute concert for their former lead singer, Guan Yu (冠宇), who died of leukemia in 2000. Also on the bill are funk and soul group Funky Brothers (放客兄弟), pop rockers Red Flower (紅花樂團), hard rock outfit Trash and Sick Pistols. Tomorrow night, Japanese glam rock/visual kei band DaizyStripper takes to the stage for a show billed “Virgin Strip Show.” On Sunday, it’s a trio of indie rock bands, Slack Tide, Doodle and local slow-core rock favorites Windmill (風籟坊). Beloved garage rock band The White Eyes (白目樂隊) take to the stage on Wednesday to promote their new EP Dead Boy (死男孩).
■ 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
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$1,700 tomorrow (NT$1,500 in advance), NT$500 on Sunday (NT$400 in advance) and NT$400 on Wednesday. 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 jazz pop outfit Mr Why Why (壞壞嗓樂團). Tomorrow night it’s solo acoustic act Glory (葛洛力) and indie folk singer-songwriter Chico Tsai (踩騎歌). On Thursday solo acoustic act Fifi and folk rock group Yellow Melon 7 (小玉西瓜) take 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), 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
Electro-rockers OCD Girl (強迫女孩) and indie rock group Bowztiger (包子虎) take to the stage tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Tomorrow the venue hosts Hoklo-singing indie rock group Poetgoodtalk (詩人骨頭走唱團) and experimental electronica act Shishukong (屍術控). Wednesday is punk night with all-girl band BB Bomb (BB彈) and Peppercats (胡椒貓).
■ 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
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts Taiwanese alt-rock veterans Backquarter (四分衛). Tomorrow, it’s pop rock band Trying Times and Puyuma Aboriginal songstress Jiajia (家家). Solo act Cheshire Cat (柴郡貓) and indie-pop acoustic duo DingDing and ShiShi (丁丁與西西) perform on Sunday. Monday is the venue’s 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 on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) hosts female pop singers Delphine Chin (金智娟, aka Wawa, 娃娃) and Fiona Wu (吳南穎) in a show billed “rock ’n’ roll female voices.” Pub singer and Mando-pop diva Chou Huei (周蕙) takes to the stage tomorrow.
■ 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$600 tonight and NT$800 tomorrow night. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts DJS Hawaii, Astro B (太空猴宇宙放送局) and ill Ken. Tomorrow it’s disco funk and acid jazz from Electric Mess Age (電子混亂世代) and Funky Brothers (放客兄弟), followed by DJ sets from Leo 37 and J. Ho.
■ 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 is NT$250 tonight, NT$300 tomorrow includes one drink
Local ska-meisters Skaraoke perform 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. On Tuesday, it’s the J.C.K. Jazz Band, while on Wednesday the MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團) plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues. Alter-J, which mixes R ’n’ B, soul, gospel and jazz, takes to the stage 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), 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 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 pop rock band Mary Jane and her Quartet every Friday. 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 Mando-pop singer Sing-Ling (昕羚).
■ 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 Mercury (水星酒館) hosts garage rockers Mary See the Future tonight.
■ 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 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes a drink
Taipei Discussion and Learning meets every Sunday at Wisteria Tea House (紫藤廬) to hear lectures and discuss topics such as philosophy, science, anthropology, globalization and alternative medicine. All discussions and lectures are conducted in English. This weekend’s lecture is titled “What is the Federal Reserve and why should we protest against it and abolish it?”
■ Wisteria Tea House (紫藤廬), 1, Ln 16, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段16巷1號)
■ Every Sunday at 7:45pm
■ Entrance is free. For more information visit www.taipeidiscussionandlearning.blogspot.com
The East West Culture Project’s autumn retreat, Fall Into Silence, is a one-day silent meditation retreat being held in Taipei on Sunday. It will include meditation and qigong sessions, an optional yoga class, two vegetarian meals and a lecture by Khenchen Rinpoche. The day will be spent in silence, except for designated times set aside for questions about the practices.
■ Sunday starting at 10am at the Zen center in downtown Taipei. Registered participants will be escorted to the center from the Da-an MRT station (大安捷運站)
■ Admission is NT$3,000. For reservations and more information, please call 0983-339-901 or e-mail david@eastwestcultureproject.org
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