Theater
The Lucky Purse (鎖麟囊), a production of the classic modern Beijing opera by the National GuoGuang Opera Company (國立國光劇團) is a solid production by Taiwan’s most accomplished opera troupes.
■ Sunday 2:30pm
■ Guoguang Theater (國光劇場), 8-1, Ln 66, Muzha Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市木柵路三段66巷8號之1)
■ Tickets are NT$200 and NT$300; available through ERA ticketing and online at www.tickets.com.tw
Rakugo Show (桂春蝶落語秀) by Japanese performer Shunchou Katsura, an expert in the art of one-man crosstalk, who reprises many roles through expressive voice changes in the course of telling an interesting story.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Dadaocheng Theater (大稻埕戲苑), 9F, 21, Dihua St Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市迪化街一段21號9樓)
■ Tickets are NT$500 and NT$800; available at NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Eight Immortal Fairies Series — Royal Uncle Cao (八仙傳奇系列 — 曹國舅) is part of an ongoing production by the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group (明華園戲劇團), one of the foremost exponents of Taiwanese gezai opera.
■ Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu County (新竹縣文化局演藝廳), 146 Hsiancheng 9th Rd, Chupei City, Hsinchu County (新竹縣竹北市縣政九路146號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,200; available at NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Happy Solitude Show (快樂孤獨秀) by the veteran Clippers Band and Ying Wei-Min (夾子電動大樂隊 — 小應), combines diverse elements such as “video projection, live singing and drama performance, and installation art, creating a festive atmosphere in an attempt to highlight the contrasting loneliness of man in an urban setting.” The production is a collaboration with Japanese artist Asako Otsuka.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tickets are NT$660; available at NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Blooming Enlightenment (花蕊渡河) by the U-Theater (優表演藝術劇團) opens at a small venue in Changhua before its big five-performance run in Taipei mid-October. The new production of a tried and tested show, released to great applause in 2011, gives the youth division of the performance group a chance to go through their paces, and serves as a pronouncement by the theater group that it has successors to its tradition.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ At the Yuanlin Performance Hall (員林演藝廳) located at 99, Ln 2, Chungcheng Rd, Yuanlin Township, Changhua County (彰化縣員林鎮中正路2巷99號)
■ Tickets are NT$350 to NT$1,800; available at NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
ImproVoice and The Passion of the Soul, are performances that are part of the 2012 Summer Move — Interdisciplinary Spectrum (舞上癮) series being hosted by the Taipei Artists Village (台北國際藝術村). Performed by Ralf Peters, a performance artist from Germany, as co-director of the ensemble KorperSchafftKlang and as a voice teacher and a reciter. He is also a doctor of philosophy and tries to explore the philosophical and artistic aspects of the human voice.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm (ImproVoice); Sunday at 2:30pm (The Passion of the Soul)
■ Barry Room, Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村百里廳), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號),
■ Tickets are NT$150; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Nine Songs (九歌), a reprise of Cloud Gate’s (雲門舞集) classic production opens tonight in Tainan before coming back to Taipei Sept. 13 for a massive run of nine shows.
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm
■ Tainan City Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心演藝廳), 332 Chunghua E Rd Sec 3, Greater Tainan (台南市中華東路三段332號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,800; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
La Michael: Amis’s Musical (拉麥可) is the world premiere of a new production of musical theater by the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) under the direction of Chien Wen-pin (簡文彬).
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000; available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Dreams in a Mirror (大觀夢) by the E-Dance Company (伊舞集) takes its inspiration from a line in the Chinese classic Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢) about the blurring of dreams and reality.
■ Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm
■ New Taipei City Arts Center (新北市藝文中心演藝廳), 62 Jhuangjing Rd, Banciao Dist, New Taipei City (新北市板橋區莊敬路62號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500 for New Taipei City; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Pianist Dang Thai-son (鄧泰山) performs a program of Debussy pieces, including Estampes, Two Arabesques and Preludes Book 1.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$800 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Fans of the Disney film Fantasia can listen to the soundtrack music performed by the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra. The program includes excerpts from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
■ Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$800 to NT$4,200, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Sunday is Brazil Fest at the National Concert Hall, with a performance that mixes “choro,” a Brazilian folk music that has elements of samba and jazz, with traditional Chinese and European music. Brazilian musicians Gilson Verde, Victor Sales and Sebastien Notini will perform with a local group, Mei Li De Dao (美麗的島音樂家聯盟樂團), led by French expat and music instructor Damien Bernard and classical Chinese musician Lin Chin-ping (林錦蘋).
■ 2:30pm Sunday
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 and NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The National Concert Hall’s summer jazz series ends tomorrow with American R ‘N’ B and jazz diva Patti Austin.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets still available for NT$800 and NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.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 for this weekend as of press time. The venue resumes concerts on Sept. 21 with a concert by Hong Kong Mando-pop singer Sandy Lam (林憶蓮).
■ 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$1,800 on Sept. 21. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw, www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Mando-pop songstress Maggie Chiang (江美琪) plays tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Later on in the evening, it’s a hip hop dance party with DJs Kero One, DoSoul, Dasu, Chicano and E.Dragon. Taking the stage tomorrow and Sunday is Japanese metal band Onmyo-za, whose show is titled “Overflowing Soul for Formosa.” On Wednesday, the venue hosts post-rock groups Lily et Coco and Sorry Youth (拍謝少年).
■ 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; tonight’s dance party starts at 11:50pm
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$800 for the dance party, NT$2,000 on Saturday (NT$1,800 in advance) and Sunday and NT$200 on Sunday. 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 indie rock solo acts Marine (馬林) and fingerstyle guitarist Sujer (舒吉吉). On Saturday, pop singer/songwriter Iris Lin (林綾) takes the stage, and on Thursday jazzy rock group Early.
■ 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
Tonight Underworld, a long-established basement club for indie bands, hosts energetic garage rock from Hi-Jack and 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽). Grunge band KoOk (庫克樂團) and punk group Random (隨性樂團) play tomorrow. On Wednesday, the venue hosts Japanese metal band Samurai Chop.
■ 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, Saturdays and Wednesdays. 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, and NT$300 on Wednesday.
Tonight Revolver hosts DJs Neker Chen, Physical Chemical Brother, Fish.The and Sonic Deadhorse for an evening titled “Hardcore Gabber Breakcore.” On Saturday, it’s “Groove Selection” with QQ&Jimmy, James Ho, A-Daoand Sylvain.
■ 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 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$250 tonight and tomorrow. Admission includes one free drink
Jazz quartet Tiny Step (門田英司) is the main act tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Popular rock act Mary See the Future (先知瑪莉) takes the stage tomorrow. Solo act Cheshire Cat (柴郡貓) and Mando-pop group Every Planet (美味星球) play on Sunday.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 9pm
vNT$450 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and NT$350 on Sunday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館), it’s a trio of girl-power indie bands: electronica group The Girl and the Robots (女孩與機器人), garage rockers The White Eyes (白目), and electro-punk foursome Go Chic Mando-pop singer/songwriter Blue Vela (陳曼青) is on Saturday. (These concerts were incorrectly listed as taking place last weekend. The Taipei Times regrets the error.)
■ 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, except tomorrow’s, which starts at 8pm
■ NT$400 tonight and NT$450 tomorrow. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Sappho de Base, a late-night jazz/lounge bar, hosts saxophonist Minyen Hsieh (謝明諺) and his quartet. Bassist Ashley Hines and friends take the stage tomorrow. On Tuesday, the Sappho House Band leads an open jam and on Wednesday it’s fusion jazz from Fusion Planet.
■ 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 Saturday; free all other nights
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs tonight and every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed up by a live band every night.
■ 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
Guitar-vocalist duo Blurrs Bros perform blues and American songbook tunes tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s. On Fridays, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Taipei blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas.
■ 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 TAV Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts an evening of swing and jump blues from The Flat Fives. Rock outfit Microcosmos (小宇宙樂團) takes the stage tomorrow.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377, ext 207
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ Entrance is free on Thursday, NT$350 on weekends. Admission includes one drink
Tomorrow, Bobwundaye, a small pub on Taipei’s Heping East Road (和平東路), hosts blues rock band Celluloid (賽璐璐). The venue holds an open mic every Wednesday.
■ 77, Hoping E Rd, Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號)
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ NT$200 on Saturday
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Hip-hop group MJ116 (頑童) takes the stage tonight, and tomorrow, it’s long-running indie rock band La Petit Nurse (小護士).
■ 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$800 tonight, NT$300 tomorrow
Community
On Sunday, yoga practitioners and students in Taipei are invited to participate in the Yoga Aid Challenge, a global charity event in which participants engage in a yoga session together. The class is offered in exchange for donations (suggested donation is NT$1,000 per person), the entire proceeds of which goes directly to the Africa Yoga Project, and locally, the Harmony Home Association (which runs orphanages for children with HIV/AIDS) and the Integrated Arts Association of Taipei (a school for children with special needs). The Taipei event takes place at Space Yoga’s Anhe (安和) and Tianmu(天母) studios. For details, visit Space Yoga’s Web site at www.withinspace.com.
■ Sunday, noon to 2pm
■ 16F, 27, Anhe Rd, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段27號16樓) and 5, Ln 43, Tianmu E Rd, Taipei City (台北市天母東路43巷5號)
■ Registration required by calling 2773-8108 (Anhe Road branch) or 2877-2109 (Tianmu branch)
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