Highlight
 A scene from Tambours, one of Theatre du Soleil's acts. PHOTO: COURTESY OF THEATRE DU SOLEIL | Taipei Film House (光點－台北之家) presents a film festival on Theatre du Soleil, which will visit Taiwan for the first time from Dec. 22 to Dec. 29 to stage its latest work, Les Ephemeres. The selected eight films show the talents of the troupe's founder, Ariane Mnouchkine, as a theater director and a filmmaker. The series of movies includes cinematic works that examine stage performances and documentaries inspired by the Parisian avant-garde troupe and films made collectively by the theater.
The festival will run from today through Dec. 21 and is scheduled for a second run from Jan. 11 to Jan. 18.
▲Taipei Film House (光點台北), 18, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市中山北路二段18號)
▲Tickets cost NT$200 for non-members and NT$170 for members, available through NTCH ticket outlets or at the door
For more information, visit www.spot.org.tw
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Upcoming
 PHOTO: COURTESY OF ANGEL ART GALLERY | Ling-ko: Dialogues between Soul and Emptiness (心空對話). This art and fashion exhibition shows Taiwanese ink and color-splash artist Ling-ko's (何淑玲) love of experimentation. She uses everything from large ceramic tiles to traditional scroll paper to luxurious polished cotton as a canvas for her imagination and her poetry. The Angel Art Gallery (天使美術館) shows her tiles and Buddhism-inspired calligraphic works in one room, with her paintings, sample bed linens and a ball gown a designer friend made based on a large painting Ling-ko did on cotton canvas cloth in another. A practitioner of the "true splashing" technique, Ling-ko's work gives each viewer the freedom to interpret what they see through their own souls.
▲Dialogues Between Sould and Emptiness (心空對話) ▲Angel Art Gallery (天使美術館), 1F, 41 Xinyi Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市信義路4段41號1F) ▲Through Saturday, Dec. 30; Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Call (02) 2701-5229 |
Theater
The Butterfly Dream (夢蝶), a contemporary Kun opera (崑劇) by the Contemporary Legend Theater (當代傳奇劇場), takes the well-known story of the philosopher Zhuang Zhou (莊周) and the tragedy that ensues when he tests his wife's love for him, and converts it into a meditation on love and self-realization. Staring theater founder Wu Hsing-kuo (吳興國) and Chinese Kun opera star Qian Yi (錢熠).
▲National Theater (國家戲劇院) 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000 and are available through NTCH
ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Hard-hitting social commentary tinged with moral themes are trademarks of the plays written by Spanish playwright Fernando Arrabal. Tellus Theater will perform Tricycle, one of Arrabal's most celebrated plays, for Taiwanese audiences in a story that follows the lives of four wandering gypsies who have to find a way to survive an icy winter. The play is in English.
▲Mi Tsang Cafe (米倉音像食館), B1, 25, Ln 44, Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街44巷25號B1)
▲Tomorrow and Sunday at 3pm and tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$350 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Cafe (咖啡Ⅳ色心情) by DIDI Dance Theater (迪迪舞蹈劇團) is an experimental dance performance that uses coffee as a means of exploring the senses of taste and sight. With a combination of images, installations and, of course, coffee, the dance piece illustrates the importance of coffee for creative endeavors and the setting of cafes as a meeting spot for old acquaintances.
▲Eslite Bookstore, Tainan (台南誠品書店), B2, 181, Changrung St Sec 1, Tainan City (台南市長榮路一段181號B2)
▲Tomorrow at 3pm and 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical
Picturesques Musical Notes - NSO and 4 Hands (NSO 與四手黑白舞-漫舞的彩繪音符) features the NSO under the baton of Horia Andreescu, currently the principle conductor of the Romanian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He will be joined by the Duo Lafitte, made up of twin sisters Isabelle and Florence Lafitte. They will perform a program including Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos in D Minor and Colin McPhee's Tabuh Tabuhan, which was inspired by traditional Indonesian gamelan music. It will also include Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Today 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Oriental Rock & Roll (東方Rock & Roll) sees the National Chinese Orchestra (NCO) pushing the boundaries of traditional music. The show will feature percussion virtuoso Rich Huang (黃瑞豐) adding jazz and Latin beats to Chinese musical classics. Erhu soloist Wang Ming-hua (王明華) will also reprise his hugely successful The Embroidered Purse (繡荷包).
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Sunday 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Chang Cheng-chieh Cello Recital (張正傑大提琴獨奏會) sees Taiwan's foremost cellist perform Brahams' Sonatas for Cello Op. 38 and Op. 99 and Schumann's Fantasiestucke Op. 73.
▲Tomorrow at Kangsan Performance Hall, Kaohsiung County Government Cultural Bureau (高雄縣岡山演藝廳) located at 42 Kangshan S Rd, Kangshan Township, Kaohsiung County (高雄縣岡山鎮岡山南路42號) and Sunday at the Ilan Performing Arts Center (宜蘭縣文化局演藝廳) located at 482, Chongshan Rd Sec 2, Ilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482 號)
▲Tomorrow 7:30pm (Kaohsiung) and Sunday 7:30pm (Ilan)
▲Tickets are NT$100 to NT$300 for Kaohsiung and NT$100 to NT$500 for Ilan, available through ERA ticketing
Mnozil Brass 2007 World Tour (維也納爆笑七先生2007巡迴音樂會), a group of seven brass musicians who mix band music and humor start their engagement in Taiwan in Changhua and will also perform in Chiayi, Taichung and Taipei.
▲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) and the Chiayi Performing Arts Center (嘉義縣表演藝術中心) at 265, Chienkuo Rd Sec 2, Minhsiung Township, Chiayi County (嘉義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號)
▲Tuesday (Changhua), Thursday (Chiayi) at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,600 for Changhua and NY$300 to NT$1,200 for Changhua and are available through ERA ticketing
In Between Black and White - Yen chen-chieh Concert (遊藝黑白-嚴俊傑鋼琴獨奏會), outstanding young local pianist, winner of the Tchaikovsky International Music Competition (Youth) in St Petersburg, Russia in 1997, shows off his development over the past few years in a nationwide tour that starts off in Ilan and takes in Hualien, Nantou, Chungli and Taipei. He will play a program including Bach's Partita No. 4 in D Major, Haydn's Sonata in E Flat Major, Scriabin's Fantasy in B Minor Op. 28, Chopin's Etude Op. 25 No. 1 and Schumann's Sonata No. 1 in F Sharp Minor Op. 11.
▲Ilan Performing Arts Center (宜蘭縣文化局演藝廳) located at 482, Chongshan Rd Sec 2, Ilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482號)
▲Thursday 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$100 to NT$300 and are available through ERA ticketing
Contemporary
Indie-electronica band Orange Doll (橘娃娃), Feng Lai Fang (風籟坊), alt-rock band Aphasia (阿飛西雅) and punks Fire Ex (滅火器) take to the stage tonight at The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow, it's popular indie-pop band Wonfu (旺福). Swedish indie-pop band The Concretes make their Taiwan debut at The Wall on Sunday. Drum 'n' Keyboard (鼓打鍵盤), Nuin 8 (扭音八) and Twice a Week (一週兩次) play Wednesday, and on Thursday, it's Taiwan-based pop/rock singer-songwriters Chris Huskey and Wiiky (胡瑋琪).
▲B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
▲The music starts at 8pm
▲Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$600 Sunday and NT$300 Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one free drink
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會), it's Freckle (雀斑) and Cosmos People (宇宙人). Tomorrow, the club will screen Hiya, a film directed by former Chasing Sparrow (追麻雀佑子) member Lai Q (賴Q) and starring ex-Underworld DJ Ah-C (愛吹倫) and members of up-and-coming punk-rock group Children Sucker (表兒). On Wednesday, it's To a God Unknown and the band's stunning post-rock arrangements, along with Sonic Deadhorse.
▲B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
▲Bands start playing after 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm daily, except Mondays
▲Entrance for shows is NT$300 and includes one free drink
Appearing tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) is house regular Delta on the Main Street, which plays Latin, funk and fusion jazz. Tomorrow, there's a mini-concert with Brit-rocker outfit 1976. Two jazz combos, The Fingers and Skyline, take to the stage on Sunday. The Fingers play smooth jazz, Latin, funk and jazz-rock fusion. Skyline does bossa nova, R 'n' B, soul and funk. Monday is open-jam night. Riverside is closed to the public on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it's fusion act They're Lisa (他們是力殺) and singer-songwriter No Name. Alt-rockers Neon and singer Bibi Chao (趙之璧) and her band play Thursday.
▲B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
▲Shows start at 9:30pm
▲NT$400 tonight; NT$350 Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one free drink. There is a one-drink minimum on Monday
Living Room (小客廳) hosts Jonas Left (左光平) tonight and neo-folk guitarist Shotetsu on Wednesday.
▲3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
▲9pm to 11pm tonight; 8pm to 9pm Wednesday
▲NT$300 minimum charge for both shows. Suggested donation is NT$100 tonight and NT$50 on Wednesday
Witch House (女巫店) presents Huang Pei-yu (黃培育) tonight and indie-rock band Radio Bear (小白熊電台) tomorrow.
▲7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org
▲Tonight and tomorrow at 9:30pm
▲NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Black Reign International brings dancehall vibes to Taipei's Club Plan B with the Passa Pass party. DJs will spin the latest in dancehall, roots, socca and hip-hop.
▲29-1, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段29-1號). Send an e-mail to obrothaz@gmail.com or visit O-Brothaz Sound System on Facebook.com for more information. Plan B's phone number is (02) 2775-5855
▲Tomorrow from 11pm to 10am
▲NT$400 entrance includes one drink
Tonight is Salsa Night at Grooveyard in Taichung, a non-smoking event with professional instructors who teach salsa and merengue to the tune of Cuban music. Tomorrow, the venue is hosting Word Alive 2, a poetry and spoken-word night with some of the best expat poets, orators and humorists from central Taiwan. Afterwards, Russel Rogers will play flamenco guitar and bouzouki. Rogers also performs Wednesday, which is ladies night. Thursday is acoustic jam and open-mic night.
▲2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung City (台中市華美西街105號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call
0939-574-737 for more information
▲Tonight's salsa runs from 8pm to 10pm. Tomorrow's Word Alive 2 starts at 7:30pm, then Rogers plays from 10:30pm. Wednesday's music is from 10pm to midnight. Thursday's open mic starts at 9pm
▲Entrance is NT$200 for Word Alive 2. There's no cover for the other events
Taichung-based funk supergroup the Money Shot Horns play tomorrow night at APA Lounge 808 in Ximending, along with funk combo New Hong Kong Hair City and alt-country band Johnny and the Fatstacks.
▲APA Lounge 808, 6F, 152, Zhonghua Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市中華路一段152號6樓). Call (02) 2381-5378 for more information
▲From 9pm to 4am
▲NT$200
It's Suburban Electro Night tonight at Bliss, for people who like their music "experimental, creative and crazy." Scheduled bands are To a God Unknown, Sound in Transition, Emily (艾蜜莉), Nonsensi, Sonic Deadhorse, Meuko Meuko, DJ Jerry and Astronauts. Tomorrow night, it's QvQ vs The Sons of Muja, "two bands mixing it up in a night that will guarantee you simply a lot of fun - with originals and covers, and any music style you can imagine."
▲Bands take to the stage at 10pm
▲Entrance to the bar is free. Cover for the shows upstairs is NT$200 tonight and free tomorrow. Friday night is ladies night. Women get a free cocktail
▲148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com
Exhibition
Citizens in a Metropolis Exhibition (大城市小人物特展－台北街頭巷尾的故事). The exhibition highlights the lives of 47 ordinary Taipei residents whose life stories are presented through photographs and video interviews. Lectures are scheduled to be held during the exhibition by artists and cultural workers, including photographer He King-tai (何經泰), dancer Lin Xiu-wei (林秀偉) and music critic Ma Shi-fang (馬世芳), who will share their observations on the city. For more information on the ongoing lectures, visit www.storyhouse.com.tw
▲Taipei Story House (台北故事館), 181-1, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181-1號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30am to 6:30pm. Call (02) 2587-5565 for more information
▲Until March 23, 2008
Tang Jo-hung Solo Exhibition Art Carnival (黨:若洪2007創作展). Using Chinese calligraphy techniques, the artist explores the themes of dream and memory in his latest series of paintings that predominantly feature his dog, Cookey, in a world that is mysterious and motionless.
▲Gallery 41 (斯依畫廊), 41, Ln 100, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段100巷41號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30am to 8pm. Call (02) 8773-5089 for more information
▲Until Dec. 30
Concerning Visual Dyslexia: Pas Sage From Passed Ages as Passage (失讀症-知視得前徑). The solo exhibition by Wu Yu-tang (吳宇棠) speaks of nameless, non-acoustic languages, which issue from matter. The artist points out that the language of sculpture and painting is founded on certain kinds of "thing"-language and that the communication of "thing" is communal in a way that embraces the world as an undivided whole.
▲Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間), 15-2, Ln 11, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (中山北路二段11巷15-2號). Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 8pm. Call (02) 2561-1548 for more information.
▲Until Dec. 30
Looking Souvenir (Looking Souvenir 藝術家的影像). A joint exhibition by seven local artists who use imagery as a medium to respond to the idea of art creation and the operative mechanisms behind the world of art as a cultural enterprise. The show also addresses the different approaches to reading images as objects, and can be seen as a light and playful game of images.
▲Cafe Noir (咖啡黑), 29 Siwei Rd, Taipei City (台北市四維路29號). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am to 10pm. Call (02) 2325-6886 for more information
▲Until Dec. 29
Coming Home - Lin Hsing-yueh Solo Exhibition (歸鄉－林惺嶽創作回顧展). Featuring more than 130 of the artist's works, ranging from watercolor paintings and sketches to oil paintings, the exhibition reveal the surrealist's transformation through 50 years of painting, from his avant-garde phase to the return to naturalism inspired by his homeland, Taiwan.
▲National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立台灣美術館), 2, Wuchuan W Rd Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市五權西路一段2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (04) 2372-03552 for more information
▲Until Jan. 20, 2008
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