Highlight
This weekend offers a plethora of activities for children with the commencement of the Taipei Children's Festival (台北2007兒童藝術節) and the 2007 International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (2007宜蘭國際童玩藝術節) in Ilan County. Both events start tomorrow, the former focusing on Da-an Park (大安森林公園) and Tianmu Sports Park (天母運動公園) in Taipei, and the latter at its home of many years, the Tungshan River Park (冬山河園區) in Ilan County. The Taipei event will offer over two weeks of dance and music, with detailed English information available at kids.culture.gov.tw/children_eng.tw. The Folklore and Folkgame Festival will run through until Aug. 26 with performances, exhibitions and activities by groups from around the world. Information in Chinese is available at www.folkgame.org.tw. The English site had not yet been enabled as of press time. Ticketing information for both events can be obtained from www.artsticket.com.tw.
At Daxi elementary school, Ilan Country, stages have replaced classrooms, musicians are substitutes for teachers and guitars are the instruments of intellectual edification. With a total of 50 bands spread over five stages encompassing every imaginable style of music, Grassfest is looking to tap into the popularity of music festivals. And it seems to have worked. Although only in its second year, the 2,500 tickets printed for the festival have been sold out - much to the surprise of the organizers. "The tickets sold out over a week and a half ago," said Kat Chang (張紋), one of the festival organizers, She added, "we are totally blown away by the positive response."
- Daxi Elementary School, Ilan County (宜蘭縣大溪國小), across the street from the Daxi train station, Ilan County (宜蘭大溪火車站)
- Tomorrow beginning at 1pm
- Tickets are NT$300. For more information go to www.grassfest.net or call (02) 2933-3431
Theater
Irma la Douce (巴黎花街) by Godot Theater (果陀劇場) tells the story of a fired cop on the steamy streets of 1960s Paris, who falls in love with a prostitute named Irma la Douce, who he meets at a seedy bar called the Cafe Moustache. After killing off la Douce's pimp, the ex-cop takes his place and gradually loses all sense of reality as he becomes increasingly jealous of the hooker's Johns. A highlight of the performance is the comedic acting talents of Chin Shih-jie (金士傑), who plays the role of the cafe owner.
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館), 505 Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段號505)
- 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.artstickets.com.tw
Elevator Kids (電梯裡的小孩) by Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團) is a fantasy glove puppet theater performance that tells the story of two trendy kids who go through a series of adventures.
- Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei (台北市西寧北路79號)
- Tomorrow at 3pm
- Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Closer Taipei by Lowkey Theater Troupe (低調劇團) is a performance piece about men and women living a lonely life in the big city and its influence on relationships and love.
- Guling St Theater (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
- Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
- Tickets are NT$250 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Classical Music
2007 Young Star Series - Chuang Meng-hsun Viola Recital, Wu Chih-huan Saxophone Recital, and Liang Chia-yuan Harp Recital (2007兩廳院樂壇新秀 - 莊孟勳中提琴獨奏會、吳志桓薩克斯風獨奏會、梁嘉芫豎琴獨奏會). The first concert tomorrow will be Chuang Meng-hsun Viola Recital. Chuang, Wu, and Liang were selected by the National Theater and Concert Hall (NTCH) as the young stars of the year. Chuang, who currently works on his doctoral degree at the New England Conservatory, studies with the prestigious violist Kim Kashkashian. Chuang has garnered prizes in various viola competitions, which include the international Chamber Music Competition sponsored by the Chamber Music Foundation of New England in 2005. In this recital, Chuang will play a viola made by Carolus Ferdinandus Landulphus in 1760, generously lent to him by the Chimei Museum, and will be joined by pianist Lin Jui-ping (林瑞萍). Chuang will present Schumann's Marchenbilder (童話繪本), Haydn's Divertimento, Hindemith's Sonata, Op.11, No.4, and Rachmaninov's Sonata in A minor, Op.19. The second concert, a Sunday matinee, will be the Wu Chih-Huan Saxophone Recital. Wu teaches saxophone at the Cornell University Department of Music. Wu won the Saxophone Concerto Competition sponsored by the Eastman School in 2004. He coached the Vim Saxophone Quartet from the Eastman School winning the first prizes in two national chamber music competitions in the US in 2006. Joined by pianist Yeh Yi-chen (葉怡辰), Wu will perform Swerts' Klonos, Saint-Saens' Sonate for Clarinet, Op.166 arranged for saxophone by Wu, himself and some classic numbers. The last of the three concerts will be Liang Chia-yuan Harp Recital on Sunday evening. Liang has a bachelor's degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a master's degree from the Juilliard School. She is a member of the Juilliard Orchestra, New Juilliard Ensemble, and Juilliard Chamber Orchestra and has perform at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center several times. Recently, Liang won a Fulbright Award to study with Maria Graf at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule fur Musik in Berlin. Joined by pianist Grace Chung (鍾曉青), Wu will present Bach's French Suite No. 6 in E Major, Guridi's Viejo Zortico (古老的巴斯克舞曲), Tournier's Sonatine, Op.30, Dussek's Sonata in C minor, Pierne's Concertstuck for Harp and Orchestra, and Alvars' Introduction, Candenza, and Rondo.
- At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
- For Chuang's viola recital, NT$400 seats are still available. For Wu's saxophone recital, NT$500 seats are still available. For Liang's harp concert, tickets range from NT$400 to NT$500. All tickets can be purchased through NTCH ticketing
- Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (波特蘭青年愛樂管弦樂團). Founded in 1924, PYP is made up of outstanding young musicians chosen by open auditions each spring and early fall. They range in age from seven to 22, come from communities across the region, and represent over 70 different schools. PYP has taken eight national and international concert tours to Europe, Canada, Asia, and, Australia and New Zealand, and recently to the East Coast and Carnegie Hall. The conductor will be US-based Taiwanese musician Chen Mei-ann (陳美安), whose First Prize at Copenhagen's Nicolai Malko Competition for Young Conductors in April 2005 has created the opportunity for her to conduct orchestras in Scandinavia and Asia. While being Conductor and Music Director of PYP, she has also conducted the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and participated in programs for promising young conductors sponsored by the American Symphony Orchestra League, the National Conducting Institute and the Aspen Music Festival. She is the first person in New England Conservatory history to receive a double masters degree in conducting and violin simultaneously. The orchestra will present a program of works, including Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, and Two Dance Episodes from "Rodeo" Buckaroo Holiday and Hoe-down, Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story" and Overtrue to "Candide", and Tyzen Hsiao's (蕭泰然) The Angel from Formosa (福爾摩沙的天使).
- At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
- Tickets range from NT$300 to NT$1,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
- Sunday at 7:30pm
Joshua Bell Violin Recital (約夏:貝爾小提琴獨奏會). Bell is regarded as a classical music superstar for his virtuoso playing. Bell has won the Academic Award with his solos in the film The Red Violin. In addition, he has won Grammy Awards, Echo Klassik in Germany, Gramophone Awards in the UK, and his recordings have topped the Billboard Classical Chart. Bell and his long-term accompanist Simon Mulligan will present Beethoven's Sonata No.5 for Violin and Piano in F Major, Op.24, "Spring", Saint-Saens' Sonata No.1 for Violin and Piano in d minor, Op.75, and the Taiwan premiere of Meyer's Concert Piece for Violin and Piano.
- At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
- As of press time, NT$400 to NT$1,000 tickets are sold out, but seats are still available from NT$1,200 to NT$2,500 through NTCH ticketing
- Monday at 7:30pm
Events
Tomorrow at the Cosmopolitan Grill, six new stand-up comedians make their debut in Comedy Binlang, a two-hour show co-organized by ICRT DJ Rick Monday and CAPT, a group for English-speaking professionals. Scheduled to perform are Sammy Su, who last year won first place at a Toastmasters humorous speech competition, Lester Lin, Chris Wang, David Enterline, Dan Mitchell and Reese Richards.
Admission includes a Western buffet dinner and one drink. To purchase discounted advance tickets, got to www.capt.org.tw/events.htm or call 0919-491-046 or 0938-078-658
- The buffet will be open from 7pm to 8:40pm. The comedy runs from 9pm to 11pm
- NT$450 for advance tickets, NT$500 at the door
- Address: 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei (台北市長春路218號)Telephone: (02) 2508-0304, or visit www.cosmo.com.tw
Contemporary
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) features White Eyes (白目), a hard-driving garage band with three guys and a chick lead singer/guitarist, along with post-rock band Random (隨性). Tomorrow DJ Bwatty Girl, aka DJ Assimilatah, hits the decks for a night of breakcore, drum 'n' bass and reggae with VJ Azz and DJ Island. On Wednesday it's Stay Gold, who play punk, pop-punk and ska, with expat punk trio Selling Us Everything (溯).
- The bar opens at 8pm and bands start playing at 9pm
- Entrance is NT$300
- B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369 0103 or visit www.underworld-taipei.blogspot.com for more information
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) presents jazz combo Brussel Van Taipeh and Guests. Tomorrow there's a mini concert with all-girl rock quintet Cherry Boom (櫻桃幫). On Sunday it's new band Paragliding (滑翔翼), five guys whose average age is 19, and FiFiTwo (緋緋兔), three girls and a wah pedal. Monday is open-jam night. Tuesday features White Eyes (白目) and soft-rock/jazz combo Sunny 4. Wizard of Oz (綠野仙蹤) and alt-rock band Rock Bang (洛客班) play Wednesday. And on Thursday it's indie-electronica band Nylas and newish indie band Radiobear (小白熊電台).
- Shows start at 9:30pm
- Entrance tonight, tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday is NT$350. Sunday and Tuesday is NT$300. On Monday there's a one-drink minimum
- 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
Veteran pub-scene indie-rockers and Yo La Tengo admirers Sugar Plum Fairy (甜梅號) play two sets tonight at The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow there's more indie rock with Blue's Night (藍調之夜), Bearbabes (熊寶貝) and Peppermint (薄荷葉). On Sunday it's German musician Maximilian Hecker, whose music has been compared with that of French downbeat pop/electronica duo Air. On Wednesday it's Mary See the Future, The Newsonghead and Rabbit is Rich. Slimo (魚子醬) performs on Thursday.
- Entrance tonight and tomorrow NT$400. Sunday is NT$900. Wednesday and Thursday is NT$300
- All shows start at 8pm, except Sunday's, which starts at 7pm
- 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
Friday night is Salsa Night at Grooveyard in Taichung. Following that, there's a performance by folk-pop group The Black Lung Inner City Choir. On Saturday, Grooveyard is hosting an after party for the American Chamber of Commerce's Independence Day celebrations with .22. On Sunday it's house jazz combo 'Round Midnight. Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday. Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night. Meanwhile, Groovecity features 'Round Midnight and Aboriginal musicians Eagle Lin and Gu La Pau tonight. Tomorrow the American Chamber of Commerce is celebrating Independence Day at Groovecity with a free party featuring 'Round Midnight, Mostly Handsome Faye Blais, The Black Lung Inner City Choir, Boogie Chillin' and The Eagle Shot Horns, followed by more music with Eagle Lin and Gu La Pau.
- At Grooveyard, tonight's salsa last from 8pm to 10:30pm. The band plays at 10:30pm. Tomorrow's music starts at 10pm. Sunday's jazz is from 12pm to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm. Wednesday's performance is from 8pm to 10pm. Thursday's open-mic starts at 9pm. At Groovecity, tonight's music runs from 6pm to 10pm. Tomorrow's party is from 2pm to 9pm
- Grooveyard cover is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow. There's no cover Wednesday and Thursday. There is no cover at Groovecity
- Groovecity is inside Tiger City (台中老虎城旁停車場) at 120 Henan Rd Sec 3, Taichung (台中市河南路三段120號老虎城). Grooveyard is located at 2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung (台中市華美西街105號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 for more information
Exhibitions
Less of a House - Hu Tsai-ming Solo Exhibition (家 - 胡財銘個展). Having joined SLY, Taiwan's foremost platform for young artists since 2001, Hu puts on his third solo exhibition combining performance art with sculpture. As city dwellers throw out old furniture on the streets during the annual house-cleaning to welcome the Chinese New Year, the artist makes use of these abandoned house fittings to create a personal imagination of home.
- Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間), 15-2, Ln 11, Zhongshan N Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (中山北路二段11巷15-2號). Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 8pm. Call (02) 2561-1548
- Until July 15
Human - Shadow (人 - 影). A solo exhibition by Hsieh Wang-tzu (謝旺自) features a series of paper-cutting works of imaginary creatures that speaks of the blurred faces of strangers in the urban jungle and other beings co-inhabiting the city with human beings.
- Taishin Financial Tower (台新金控大樓), 118 Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路四段118號2樓). Open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm. Call (02) 3703-6955
- Until July 27
Vietnam Art On-Site (越南藝術現場). Organized by Amily's Art, the exhibition features oil paintings from Vietnam that blend Vietnam's culture, nature and its people with French impressionism and introduces local audiences to a new c force in international art that has emerged over the past decade.
- The Path Cafe (花徑開), 10, Alley 33, Ln 216, Zhoungxiao E Rd, Taipei (台北市忠孝東路四段216巷33弄10號). Open Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 2am. Call (02) 7718-5982
- Until Aug. 20
Glove Puppet Art Exhibition (泉州新藝城木偶藝術特展). As most original Quanzhou glove puppets are in museums and private collections, the exhibition brings to Taiwan the intricately carved and beautifully costumed puppets for the first time from the Huayuan School (花園派) in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.
- Fish Art Center (秋刀魚藝術中心), 137 Chihu Rd, Taipei (台北市基湖路137號). Open Sunday to Friday from 11am to 10:30pm. Call (02) 2532-3800
- Until July 31
Narratives in Motion: The Animal Kingdom of the Formosan Aborigines Folktales (聽傳說 - 台灣原住民與動物的故事). Aboriginal people learn their ancestors' wisdom from the oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. The special exhibition introduce the public to the island's Aboriginal tribes' myths and folktales in relation to animals that include the hundred-pace snake, flying fish and black bear.
- National Taiwan Museum (國立台灣博物館), 2, Xiangyang Rd, Taipei (台北市襄陽路2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2382-2699
- Until Nov. 15
Jan. 6 to Jan. 12 Perhaps hoping to gain the blessing of the stone-age hunter-gatherers that dwelt along the east coast 30,000 years ago, visitors to the Baxian Caves (八仙洞) during the 1970s would grab a handful of soil to bring home. In January 1969, the nation was captivated by the excavation of pre-ceramic artifacts and other traces of human habitation in several caves atop a sea cliff in Taitung County. The majority of the unearthed objects were single-faced, unpolished flake tools fashioned from natural pebbles collected by the shore. While archaeologists had found plenty of neolithic (7,000 BC to 1,700
Famed Chinese demographer Yi Fuxian (易富賢) recently wrote for The Diplomat on the effects of a cross-strait war on demography. He contended that one way to deter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is by putting the demographic issue front and center — last year total births in the PRC, he said, receded to levels not seen since 1762. Yi observes that Taiwan’s current fertility rate is already lower than Ukraine’s — a nation at war that is refusing to send its young into battle — and that its “demographic crisis suggests that Taiwan’s technological importance will rapidly decline, and
When the weather is too cold to enjoy the white beaches and blue waters of Pingtung County’s Kenting (墾丁), it’s the perfect time to head up into the hills and enjoy a different part of the national park. In the highlands above the bustling beach resorts, a simple set of trails treats visitors to lush forest, rocky peaks, billowing grassland and a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the coast. The rolling hills beyond Hengchun Township (恆春) in Pingtung County offer a two-hour through-hike of sweeping views from the mighty peak of Dajianshih Mountain (大尖石山) to Eluanbi Lighthouse (鵝鑾鼻燈塔) on the coast, or
Her greatest fear, dormant for decades, came rushing back in an instant: had she adopted and raised a kidnapped child? Peg Reif’s daughter, adopted from South Korea in the 1980s, had sent her a link to a documentary detailing how the system that made their family was rife with fraud: documents falsified, babies switched, children snatched off the street and sent abroad. Reif wept. She was among more than 120 who contacted The Associated Press this fall, after a series of stories and a documentary made with Frontline exposed how Korea created a baby pipeline, designed to ship children abroad as quickly as
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