Theater
Human Condition (人間條件), Green Ray Theater’s (綠光劇團) newest play, centers on the life of a 17-year-old girl who rebels against her dysfunctional family’s listless existence.
▲ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
▲
Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲
Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Directed by Chongtham Jayanta Meetei, EX-Theater Asia (亞洲劇團) will perform Indian writer Girish Karnad’s play Hayavadana. The main plot follows the story of Hayavadana, a horse-headed man whose quest for wholeness underscores the play’s exploration of identity and reality.
▲
Eslite Bookstore, Tainan (台南誠品書店), B2, 181, Changjung St Sec 1, Tainan City (台南市長榮路一段181號B2)
▲
Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
▲
Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing
Blessed with a beautiful voice, a girl moves to the city in search of her dreams in Lil’ Flora (小花) by If Kid’s Theater (如果兒童劇團). While working at a flower shop, Flora is “discovered” by a music executive who encourages her to be the ghost singer for an untalented but beautiful star. After accepting the offer, Flora finds it increasingly galling that the person receiving all the accolades is less talented than herself — a reality that gradually changes her idealistic personality.
▲
Performing Arts Center of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu County (新竹縣文化中心演藝廳), 146 Xianzheng 9th Rd, Jhubei City, Hsinchu County (新竹縣竹北市縣政九路146號)
▲
Tomorrow at 10:30am, 2:30pm and 7:30pm
▲
Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing
On Fire (賣番仔火的小女孩), by Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團), tells the story of a greedy grandmother who forces her granddaughter to work in a factory that makes matches. The girl befriends a boy and together they discover that the matches are alive. One night, a disaster threatens the lives of both children and their match friends.
▲
Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧北路79號)
▲
Tomorrow at 3pm
▲
Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing
Classical
Soprano Violet Chang 2008 Solo Recital (女高音張縵2008獨唱會) pairs Violet Chang (張縵) with pianist Norman Shetler to present a program of songs by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Reger
and Mahler.
▲
Tuesday at 7:30pm (Taichung) and Thursday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
▲
Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號); Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
▲
Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 for both Taichung and Taipei, available through ERA ticketing
Ju Percussion Group Winter Concert — Percussion Happens Daily (朱宗慶打擊樂團冬季公演 — 擊樂進行式) features works by international composers including Emmanuel Sejourne, Eric Sammut, Gerard Lecointe, Aurel Hollo, Toshimitsu Tanaka and Chang Yu-hui (張玉慧) that were written specifically for the Ju Percussion Group.
▲
Today at 7:30pm
▲
National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲
Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing
The Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra — Breaking the Dawn (台北愛樂管弦樂團 — 馬勒交響之夜) brings to the stage guest conductor Andreas Delfs, who has recently completed an 11-year stint as the conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He will lead the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra in performances of Mozart’s Symphony No.35 in D Major and Mahler’s Symphony No.1.
▲
Today at 7:30pm (Hsinchu) and Sunday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
▲
Hsinchu Municipal Auditorium (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17, Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號); National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲
Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500 for Hsinchu; NT$500 to NT$2,500 for Taipei, available through NTCH ticketing
Music Forum 2008 Annual Concert (十方樂集2008年度公演 — 時空交擊) sees the percussion orchestra perform a program that includes the world premiere of Li Yuan-chen’s (李元貞) Ring (鐘) and the Taiwanese premiere of Chang Choa-jan’s (張超然) Beyond the Boundary (極限之外).
▲
Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲
Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
▲
Tickets are NT$300 to NT$900, available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Hitting the stage tonight at VU Live House are folk singers Pat Reid and Shane Lazarowich and irreverent rockers Sons of Homer. [See story above.] Tomorrow evening it’s the Squeeze Reggae Party with Black Reign International and guest singers Sunny Smalls, P-$Money, Ras Junior Alpha and Ice.
▲
B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 for more information
▲
Shows begin at 11pm tonight and tomorrow
▲
NT$250 tonight, includes one drink; NT$400 tomorrow, includes two drinks
Alt-rock chanteuse Faith Yang (楊乃文) appears tonight at the The Wall (這牆) for a concert titled Selected 2008. Indie-rock group Bear Babes (熊寶貝) takes to the stage tomorrow for the first in a four-show series called Hunting Bears. Those who attend all four shows can trade in their ticket stubs for an upcoming DVD documentary on the band. Visit the band’s Web site at bearbabes.idv.tw for more details. On Sunday, Brit-pop band Bitter, The Blue Velvets (藍絲絨) and Johnny and Eeyore are scheduled to perform.
▲
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 visit www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
▲
Starts at 8:30pm tonight (doors open at 8pm); 8pm tomorrow and Sunday
▲
NT$900 tonight; NT400 tomorrow; NT$300 on Sunday
Tango Negro, which plays
accordion music inspired by Argentinean tango composer Astor Piazzolla, performs tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Tomorrow it’s the soft folk and bossa nova sounds of Sheyuti (徐幼庭) and her signature pink guitar, backed by a second guitarist and bassist. Indie singer Huang Pei-yu (黃培育) plays afterwards.
▲
7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For more information, call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org
▲
Performances 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 fee for music shows is NT$300, includes one drink
Funk, rock and blues instrumentals take center stage at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) tonight with a group of session musicians: bass player Brain Chiu (邱培榮); guitarist Mike McLaughlin; drummer Chiang Yong-cheng (姜永正), aka Douzi (豆子); and Fen-da (芬達) on keyboard. Young Mando-pop talent A-bin (方炯鑌) performs tomorrow night.
▲
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). Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
▲
Shows start at 9pm tonight and tomorrow
▲
NT$400 tonight and tomorrow
The owners of the Riverside Cafe recently opened the Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館), located in Ximending’s historic Red House Theater (西門紅樓). Tomorrow it’s Mala Sound with Sticky Rice frontman Ma Nien-hsien (馬念先) and friends, who include Taiwanese rap pioneer MC Hot Dog; Van Fan (范逸臣), the Amis pop singer and star of the local hit movie Cape No. 7 (海角七號); and pop wunderkind Joanna (王若琳).
▲ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Call (02) 2370-8805 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
▲ Show goes from 8pm to 10pm
▲ Entrance is NT$700, which includes one drink
Mandinga Latin Band appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Reggae and dub fills the house tomorrow night, with High Tide, which recently won ICRT’s battle-of-the-bands contest. On Tuesday night the Sappho Jazz Band performs, with an open jam afterwards, while Double J Band plays disco, funk and hard rock on Wednesday. On Thursday night the venue hosts T and T Jazz and Friends.
▲ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit www.sappho102.biz for more information
▲ Performances begin at 10:30pm on weekends; 10pm on weekdays
▲ No admission fee
Soma plays rock and pop covers tonight at Tone 56 Live Bar. Tomorrow it’s house band Loaded, which plays everything from “rock classics to today’s hits.” On Sunday, Doug, Mingwei and Friends take to the stage for an acoustic jam.
▲ 1F, 56, Minquan E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市民權東路三段56號1樓), near the corner of Fuxing North (復興北) and Minquan East (民權東) roads
Call (02) 2517-3869 for more information
▲ Music shows go from 9:30pm to 12:30am tonight and tomorrow; 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Sundays
▲ No admission fee
Taking to the stage tonight at Bliss is “loud and proud” QvQ, an expat rock band. Also appearing is solo act Matt Nicodemus. Tomorrow it’s folk and rock sounds with Shane Lazarowich, Pat Reid and Tyler Dakin and the Long Naked Bottles. [See story on Page 14.]
▲ 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號), one block east of Dunhua South Road (敦化南路). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com. For more information on live performances at Bliss, visit www.myspace.com/blisslivehouse
▲ Tonight and tomorrow at 10pm. Bar/kitchen open daily from 7pm. Ladies’ night Fridays; women get one free cocktail of their choice
▲ Entrance to the bar is free. Tonight’s show is free; NT$200 entrance fee tomorrow
Underworld(地下社會) hosts Wu Yin-ning (吳音寧) and indie-folk group 929 (九二九) tonight. Tomorrow it’s taike (台客) band Children Sucker (表兒) and The Shine and Shine and Shine and Shine (閃閃閃閃). On Wednesday punk band Inhuman Species (非人物種) and newly formed noise rock group Shebang-a (死蚊子) are scheduled to perform.
▲ 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
▲ Music shows on Fridays and Saturdays are from 9:30pm to 11:30pm; 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays
▲ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow, includes one drink; NT$100 on Wednesday, no drink included
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s a blues open mic held by the Blues Society on Taiwan. All are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in on guitar, bass or drums.
▲ 1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Call (02) 2508-0304 or visit www.cosmo.com.tw for more information
▲ Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm
▲ No admission fee
Exhibitions
Stunning Decorative Porcelains From the Chienlung Reign (華麗彩瓷—乾隆洋彩泰展) examines the complex methods by which these ceramics were assembled and painted. The pieces presented in this exhibition, most of which were made between 1741 and 1744, when the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong Emperor ruled China, represent two styles of vase painting that were developed in the mid 18th century. One aspect of the exhibition deals with the subtle differences that distinguish the fa-lang-tsai (琺瑯彩) and yang-tsai (洋彩) styles.
▲ National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院), 221, Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市至善路二段221號). Open Mondays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm; Saturdays until 8:30pm. Tel: (02) 2881-2021
▲ Until Aug. 15, 2009
Taiwan International Video Art Exhibition (居無定所—2008台灣國際錄像藝術展). Featuring 20 works selected out of 121 entries submitted from 21 countries, the exhibit examines the global cultural landscape through topics ranging from cultural diversity, terrorism, and migrant labor to memory, nostalgia and land.
▲ Hong Gah Museum (鳳甲美術館), 11F, 166 Daye Rd, Taipei City (台北市大業路166號11樓). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Tel: (02) 2894-2272
▲ Until Dec. 28
Shadow of Light — Modern Ink Painting by Huang Kuang-nan (流影—黃光男現代水墨展). The renowned artist and academic’s latest works combine traditional subjects and Western compositions.
▲ German Cultural Center Taipei (台北德國文化中心), 12F, 20, Heping W Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市和平西路一段20號12樓). Open Mondays through Fridays from 10am to 8pm. Tel: (02) 2365- 7294
▲ Until Dec. 16
Flowering Body — Li Tseng-hao Solo Exhibition (開花的身體—李增豪個展). Taking the human body as its visual cue, Li’s series of images and interactive installation works examines the power of social conventions.
▲ Juming Museum (朱銘美術館), 2 Sheshihu, Chinshan Township, Taipei County (台北縣金山鄉西勢湖2號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Tel: (02) 2498-9940
▲ Until Jan. 4, 2009
Home — Taiwan Biennial 2008 (家—2008台灣美術雙年展) brings together more than 120 works by 60 artists and probes how changing ideas of home have been presented in contemporary Taiwanese art.
▲ 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 Tuesdays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Tel: (04) 2372-3552
▲ Until Feb. 8, 2009
Event
Dissident, academic and former Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, Samuel Lee will be in Taipei next week to give a lecture in English titled Why We Are Where We Are: A Personal Account of South Korea’s Path to Democracy. Lee spent many years in Europe as a dissident in exile and his personal life is inextricably linked with South Korea’s recent social and political history.
▲ GIS Convention Center, B1, 85, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段85號B1)
▲ Nov. 29 from 2pm to 5pm
▲ Admission is free but participants must pre-register by calling (02) 3322-4907, or online at www.civictaipe.org
Earlier this month Economic Affairs Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) proposed buying green power from the Philippines and shipping it to Taiwan, in remarks made during a legislative hearing. Because this is an eminently reasonable and useful proposal, it was immediately criticized by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). KMT Legislator Chang Chia-chun (張嘉郡) said that Taiwan pays NT$40 billion annually to fix cables, while TPP heavyweight Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) complained that Kuo wanted to draw public attention away from Taiwan’s renewable energy ratio. Considering the legal troubles currently inundating the TPP, one would think Huang would
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (將萬安) last week told residents to avoid wearing scary Halloween costumes on the MRT so as not to alarm other passengers. Well, I thought, so much for my plan to visit Taipei dressed as the National Development Council’s (NDC) biennial population report “Population Projections for the Republic of China (Taiwan): 2024-2070,” which came out last week. Terms like “low birth rate” and “demographic decline” do not cut it — the report is nothing short of a demographic disaster. Yet, in Taiwan, as in other countries, it is solvable. It simply requires a change in mindset. As it
One of BaLiwakes’ best known songs, Penanwang (Puyuma King), contains Puyuma-language lyrics written in Japanese syllabaries, set to the tune of Stephen Foster’s Old Black Joe. Penned around 1964, the words praise the Qing Dynasty-era indigenous leader Paliday not for his heroic deeds, but his willingness to adopt higher-yield Han farming practices and build new roads connecting to the outside world. “BaLiwakes lived through several upheavals in regime, language and environment. It truly required the courage and wisdom of the Puyuma King in order to maintain his ties to his traditions while facing the future,” writes Tsai Pei-han (蔡佩含) in
While US arms sales to Taiwan will likely continue whoever wins the presidential election, analysts say there are concerns in Taipei over a re-elected Donald Trump’s willingness to defend the country against China. American voters will choose between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former president Trump on Nov. 5, with polls showing the pair neck and neck. China has in recent years ramped up military pressure on Taiwan and has refused to rule out using force to bring it under its control. CIA director William Burns said last year that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) had ordered his military to be
RSS