Theater
Hu Xue-Yan 新編京劇胡雪巖 will be staged by the National Guoguang Chinese Opera Company (國立國光劇團) and is about the most famous businessman of the Qing Dynasty. The opera shows how Hu achieved his success through political maneuvering before his spectacular downfall later in life. The drama explores Hu's personality, business strategies and interpersonal relationships.
* At the National Theater, Taipei (國家戲劇院)
* Tickets from NT$300 to NT$1,200 and are available through NTCH ticketing
* Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
Assassination Q2 … GO (暗殺Q2…GO) is a contemporary black comedy by the highly regarded Performance Workshop 2 that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
* Guling St. Theater (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Alley 5, Guling St, Taipei (台北市牯嶺街五巷二號)
* Today at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm
* Tickets are NT$350 and are available at www.artsticket.com.tw
Events
The Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society in co-operation with the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei are holding the annual Remembrance Day Event on Sunday. This event is held to highlight the story of the former allied prisoners of war (POWs) who were held captive on Taiwan by the Japanese during World War II and forced to work as slaves here, and to ensure that what they suffered will never be forgotten. There will be two events on the day. The first is the unveiling and dedication of the newly erected bronze sculpture of the Eternal Flame of Peace and Remembrance — which stands in the center of the Prisoner of War Memorial Park — in honor and memory of the POWs who suffered in all of the Taiwan POW camps. The ceremony will be held at 10:30am and will be followed by the Remembrance Day Service at 11am. Following the ceremonies guests are invited to join together for a time of fellowship over a picnic lunch. Chartered buses will take participants to the Remembrance Services at the memorial in the village of Chinguashi (金瓜石) near Jiufen (九份). Reservations are required for the buses — which will depart from the east entrance of the Grand Hyatt Hotel — at 8:45am (cost is NT$300).
* Reservations can be made by calling Peter Yu at the Australian Commerce and Industry Office on (02) 8725-4131 or by sending an e-mail to peter.yu@dfat.gov.au. More information can be found at www.powtaiwan.org
Classical Music
Ars Trio Taipei — Salute to Mozart Concert Series II: From Mozart to Mahler (印象三重奏團—向莫札特致敬活動系列二:黃金年代). Featuring pianist Lee Yen-I (李燕宜), violinist Chen Fang-liu (陳方騮), cellist Jessica Chen (陳俐亨), soprano Zoe Hwang (黃瑞芬), and violist Wang Yi-chuan (王意權), the concert will present the Taiwan premier of Mahler' Piano Quartet and world premier of piano trio works adapted from Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Fourth Movement, Mozart's motet “Exultate, Jubilate,” K.165, and Mozart's “Nehmt meinen Dank,” K.383. Mozart's Piano Quartet in G Minor, K.478 is also on the program.
* Tonight at Taichung's Hsinmin Senior High School (新民中學藝術中心), 289 Sanmin Rd Sec 3, Taichung City (台中市三民路三段289號) and Nov. 26 at the Recital Hall, Taipei
* Tickets are NT$300 for the Taichung concert. Taipei tickets are available from NT$500 to NT$800 through ERA ticketing
* Tonight at 7:30pm and Nov. 26 at 7:30pm
Jeannie Cheng 2006 Piano Recital II (鄭怡君2006鋼琴獨奏會II). Cheng found her way to Juilliard School in New York at the age of 14. Chen now holds masters and doctoral degrees from the Juilliard School and teaches music at different Taiwanese universities. Cheng will play a program of works, including Bach-Busoni's Chaconne, Schubert's Impromptus, Nos.3 and 4, Op. 90, Chopin's Ballade, No.3, Op.47, and Schumann's Carnaval, Op.9.
* Sunday at the Chungli Arts Center (中壢藝術館音樂廳), 16 Chungmei Rd, Chungli City (中壢市中美路16號), Nov. 22 at the Luchou Branch of KHS Musical Co Music Hall (蘆洲功學社音樂廳), 162, Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Luzhou City, Taipei County (台北縣蘆洲市中山二路162號), Nov. 24 at the National Museum of Prehistory (國立台灣史前文化博物館), 1 Museum Rd, Taitung City, Taitung County (台東市博物館路1號), and Nov. 29 at the Recital Hall, Taipei.
* Free admission for the Chungli, Taipei County, and Taitung concerts. As of press time, NT$800 and NT$1,000 tickets are sold out for the Taipei concert, but seats are available from NT$300 to NT$500 through NTCH ticketing.
* Tonight at 2:30pm and Nov. 22, Nov. 24, and Nov. 27 at 7:30pm
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (阿姆斯特丹皇家大會堂管弦樂團). The successor of former RCO conductor Riccardo Chailly, conductor Mariss Jansons will lead the orchestra in two evenings of the RCO's best. In 1996, Jansons nearly died on the Oslo podium because of a heart attack while he was conducting the final pages of La Boheme. As a result, Jansons said that every concert he directs is considered his last. In other words, Jansons now puts an all-out effort in directing every concert. The first concert program on Tuesday will include Beethoven's Symphony No.8 in F Major, Op.93 and Mahler's Symphony No.1 in D Major “Titan”, and the second concert program on Thursday will include Dvorak's Symphony No.9 in E Minor “New World,” Op.95 and Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps.
* At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
* As of press time, NT$1,200 to NT$3,000 tickets are sold out, but seats are available from NT$3,600 to NT$4,800 through ERA ticketing
* Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm
Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO) — Sinfonia Concertante for Wind Quartet (台北市立交響樂團 — 木管四重協奏交響曲). This concert is the eighth in a series of 10 concerts by TSO of Mozart's instrumental and opera works to mark Taiwan's celebration of the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth. Under the direction of conductor Andras Ligeti, the concert will feature TSO principal oboist Wong Song-en (王頌恩), principal clarinetist Chen Wei-leng (陳威稜), principal bassoonist Chang Hsien-hui (張先惠), and French hornist Chen Yen-how (陳彥豪). The program will include Mozart's Overture to “Le Nozze di Figaro,” K.492, Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Orchestra in E-flat Major, K.297b, and Symphony No.41 in C Major, K.551 “Jupiter.”
* At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
* Tickets cost from NT$200 to NT$1,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing
* Wednesday at 7:30pm
2006 Autumn “Just Back From Germany” Concert Series: Gustav und Alma — Ein Mahler-Liederabend (古世塔夫與艾瑪 — 馬勒的歌曲之夜). Just Back from Germany is a series of 12 concerts sponsored by the German Cultural Center Taipei that began on Oct. 19. These concerts are scheduled to be held on Thursday evenings. Next weeks concert provides a platform for a number of young Taiwanese musicians, including mezzo soprano Irene Yang (楊艾琳), tenor Yao Ying-ren (姚盈任), pianist Liao Chiao-han (廖皎含), and vocalist Lee Chun-fung (李春峰). Gustav Mahler, one of the greatest composers at the turn of the last century, did not only produce grand symphonies, but also exceptional “Lieder” or songs, as did his wife, Alma Mahler-Werfel. Under the direction of Lee, this concert will feature two of Taiwan's great singers, mezzo soprano Irene Yang (楊艾琳) and tenor Yao Ying-ren (姚盈任), as well as pianist Liao Chiao-han (廖皎含). The program will include Gustav Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Song of a Wayfarer, 青年流浪之歌) and the Ruckert-Lieder (Ruckert Songs, 呂克特之歌) and Lieder by Alma Mahler-Werfel with lyrics by Rainer Maria Rilke.
* At the German Cultural Center, Taipei (德國文化中心), 12F, 20 Heping W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市和平西路一段20號12樓)
* Free admission
* Thursday at 7:30pm
Contemporary
The Wall (這牆) presents Project Early tonight, Firerama, a night of dancehall, reggae, soca, zouk and calypso by O-Brothaz, tomorrow, Faith on Tuesday, Telephone Booth (電話亭) and Open Eyes (歐噴愛) on Wednesday and Cosmic Man (宇宙人) Orange Grass (橙草) and White Eyes (白目) on Thursday.
* Entrance for tonight is NT$500, tomorrow is NT$350, Tuesday is NT$800, Wednesday and Thursday
is NT$300
*Tonight's show begins at 7:30pm, tomorrow's at 11pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's at 8pm
* B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.the-wall.com.tw
Grooveyard presents Faye and The Slacks tonight playing soulful pop folk and The Anglers tomorrow playing roots reggae.
* Tonight's show begins at 10pm, tomorrow's at 9
* Entrance for tonight is NT$100, and for tomorrow it's NT$100 before 10pm and NT$200 after
* 2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung (台中市華美西街105號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com
The Living Room (小客廳) presents the Lily C and Andrew McKenzie Going Away Party with The Sound Clashes, Public Radio and The Anglers tonight, Hypnotic Face Off comedy hypnosis show and David Foster and friends tomorrow, Chit Chat Game Night on Tuesday with board games, on Wednesday it's Magic, Music, and “The Buzz” (嘰哩呱啦美語聚樂會) featuring a magic show, performances by new bands and a weekly language club for anyone who wants to practice and improve their English. Thursday is theater night with Nagano Masataka.
* Tonight's performances begin at 9pm, tomorrow's hypnotist show begins at 8pm and the band performance starts at 10pm, Tuesday's fun and games begin at 7pm. Wednesday's evening of entertainment starts at 7pm. Theater night begins at 9pm
* Entrance for tonight is NT$400, tomorrow is NT$400 for the hypnotist show and NT$500 for the band gig. There is no admission fee on Tuesday. On Wednesday, entry for the magic show is NT$100, NT$50 for the band performances, which begin at 8pm, and the language club, which starts at 9pm, is also NT$100, Thursday night is NT$100
* 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路5段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) presents Cat Peng (彭靖惠) “All I Want” jazz concert tomorrow, Jia-jia (家家), Samingad (紀曉君) and AM tomorrow, Yu Guan-hua (于冠華), Flying Mouse (飛鼠) and Beetle Band (甲蟲) on Sunday, open jam on Monday, Fuzzy and Formula on Tuesday, Penny and Room 19 Musik and Unsafe on Wednesday, and A-pay (阿霈) on Thursday.
* All shows begin at 9:30pm
* Entrance for tonight, tomorrow and Thursday is NT$350, NT$300 on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday and on Monday it's NT$150
* B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
Velvet Underground (地下絲絨) presents Surviving Force (存活勢力) and Empyrean (天外天) tonight, Martians (火星人加) tomorrow, Mix and Key Wrench (六角鈑手) on Tuesday, Iron Bear and Loaded on Wednesday and Pink Stars and Tanapo on Thursday.
*Tonight and tomorrow's shows begin at 9pm, the rest start at 9:30pm
* Entrance for all shows is NT$300 (students NT$200)
* B1, 50 Zhongxiao W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市忠孝西路一段50號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 or visit www.velvet-underground.com.tw
Exhibitions
City in Camouflage: Laurent La Gamba Solo Exhibition (偽裝城市：2006朱銘美術館申請展－洛倫拉剛跋個展). Proficient in blending installation art, painting and photography, French avant-garde artist Gamba aims to unveil the city's method of disguise by camouflaging himself in urban environments through a series of installation and video art works. Using his body to directly confront the consumerist culture, the artist raises an alternative view on the relationship among people, technology and nature.
* Juming Museum (朱銘美術館), 2 Sishihhu, Chinshan, Taipei County (台北縣金山鄉西勢湖2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2498-9940
* Until Jan. 7
Oriental Expression of Abstractionism (東方的抽象表現). Featuring paintings by seven acclaimed artists in Taiwan, the exhibition provides an introduction to oriental abstractionism. The work of older generations of artists sees a classical blending of Chinese calligraphy and ink paintings with the Western aesthetics while young artists takes up the new challenge to rethink the abstractionist form.
* Metaphysics Gallery (形而上畫廊), 5F, 218-1, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市忠孝東路四段218-2號5樓). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6:30pm. Call (02) 2752-9974
* Until Dec. 20
Mama's Boy, a series of colorful images created by Norwegian photographer Tania Nyberg who is noted for her unique creativity in combining art with humanity and a sense of humor. In her work, the artist turns her focus on men who live with their moms and makes humorous, playful portraits of the mama's boys of different ethnicities, cultures, religions and countries.
* Pethany Larsen Gallery (Pethany Larsen藝坊), 2F, 30, Ln 45, Liaoning St, Taipei (台北市遼寧街45巷30號2樓) Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Call (02) 8772-5005
* Until Jan. 28
The Route — Chen Chieh-jen 2006 Solo Exhibition (陳界仁2006個展－路徑圖). The exhibition features the internationally acclaimed artist's three video works Factory, Bade Area and On Going. The first one takes a sober look at the contrast between the immobility of labor and the free-floating capital in the era of globalization while the second explores the marginality of spaces and their inhabitants and the third unveils the cruel social oppositions in life.
* Main Trend Gallery (大趨勢畫廊), 209-1 Chengde Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市承德路三段209-1號). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm. Call (02) 2587-3412.
* Until tomorrow
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
The corruption cases surrounding former Taipei Mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) head Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) are just one item in the endless cycle of noise and fuss obscuring Taiwan’s deep and urgent structural and social problems. Even the case itself, as James Baron observed in an excellent piece at the Diplomat last week, is only one manifestation of the greater problem of deep-rooted corruption in land development. Last week the government announced a program to permit 25,000 foreign university students, primarily from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, to work in Taiwan after graduation for 2-4 years. That number is a
This year’s Michelin Gourmand Bib sported 16 new entries in the 126-strong Taiwan directory. The fight for the best braised pork rice and the crispiest scallion pancake painstakingly continued, but what stood out in the lineup this year? Pang Taqueria (胖塔可利亞); Taiwan’s first Michelin-recommended Mexican restaurant. Chef Charles Chen (陳治宇) is a self-confessed Americophile, earning his chef whites at a fine-dining Latin-American fusion restaurant. But what makes this Xinyi (信義) spot stand head and shoulders above Taipei’s existing Mexican offerings? The authenticity. The produce. The care. AUTHENTIC EATS In my time on the island, I have caved too many times to
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