World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma (馬友友) is next month to give his first live performance since February in Taipei, after health authorities approved a shortened quarantine plan for the musician, organizers said on Friday.
Ma was originally to perform in Taiwan in March as part of “The Bach Project” tour he started in August 2018, but his visit was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He is to begin his tour with a solo performance at the Taipei Music Center on Nov. 10, local promoter Management of New Arts (MNA) said after the government approved a seven-day quarantine period for the virtuoso.
While the majority of people entering Taiwan must quarantine for 14 days, business travelers from territories deemed to be at lower risk of COVID-19 can apply for a shortened quarantine of five to seven days.
Applicants must present on arrival proof of a negative test for COVID-19 performed within three days before their departure, and be tested again at the end of the quarantine period.
Ma would also be required to engage in “self-health management” — wearing a mask when needed and checking his temperature daily — for seven days before he arrives in Taiwan on Nov. 2 on a chartered flight.
According to his Web site, Ma aimed to explore “how culture connects us” during the 36-city tour across six continents by performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for solo cello.
The tour was disrupted after Ma performed in Dakar on Feb. 25, and the rearranged performance in Taipei would be his first since then, MNA said.
Following his recital in Taipei, British pianist Kathryn Stott is to join Ma for four performances across Taiwan.
They are to perform at the Tainan Cultural Center on Nov. 11, National Taichung Theater on Nov. 13, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts on Nov. 14 and National Concert Hall in Taipei on Nov. 15, the promoter said.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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