Theater
Known previously for its innovative attempts to make Beijing opera relevant to contemporary audiences by combining it with elements of Western theater, Contemporary Legend Theatre (當代傳奇劇場) is for the first time in its 23-year history staging traditional Beijing opera performances in a three-opera production titled The Legendary Pear Garden (梨園傳奇). The stellar cast is led by Beijing opera innovator Wu Hsing-kuo (吳興國) and diva Wei Hai-ming (魏海敏). Performances are in Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Japanese media artist and musician Ryoichi Kurokawa teams up with Taiwanese composer Wang Sue-ya (王思雅) and percussionist Wu Shih-san (吳思珊) to present Celeritas, a visual theater composed of percussion and digital sounds, video installations and images. Kurokawa has been invited to perform and exhibit his works in the world’s major museums and galleries including the Centre Pompidou and Tate Modern.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
The 2009 Kuandu Arts Festival (2009 關渡藝術節) ends this weekend with a series of performances including Guangdong Modern Dance Company’s (廣東現代舞團) Rice Spice Zen Colors (米辣禪色), which explores Asian culinary culture (today, tomorrow and Sunday), and music and audio performances by the percussion troupe from the Taipei National University of the Arts School of Music (國立臺北藝術大學音樂學院) (today and tomorrow). On the Net: kdarts.tnua.edu.tw/festival.
■ Performances are being held at the Taipei National University of the Arts (國立臺北藝術大學) Dance Theater (舞蹈廳) and Music Hall (音樂廳), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市學園路1號)
■ Tickets are available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
■ For complete information on performance times, venues and ticket prices, see the festival’s program (Chinese only), at kdarts.tnua.edu.tw/festival/file/0910_small.pdf
Based on the work of Japanese playwright Betsuyaku Minoru, Here is the Toilet (廁所在這裡) is a Beckett-influenced, absurdist drama in which a suicidal woman meets a man who makes a living by directing people to the restroom in a park.
■ Eslite Xinyi Store (誠品信義店),
11 Songgao Rd, Taipei City (台北市松高路11號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
A series of six flamenco performances will start tomorrow featuring dancers and musicians from local flamenco groups including Compania Flamenca and Mimbre.
■ Saffron Flamenco Studio (蕃紅花佛朗明表演廳), 2, Ln 142, Nanya S Rd Sec 2 Banciao City, Taipei County (台北縣板橋市南雅南路二段142巷2號). Tel: (02) 8967-5937
■ Tomorrow at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$350 and include a drink
Classical music
Elisabeth Brauss Piano Recital (伊麗莎白•布蘭詩鋼琴獨奏會) brings the young winner of the youth division of the 2009 Grotrian Piano Competition to Taipei for a series of concerts. She will perform a program that includes works by Schumann, Chopin and Beethoven in a solo recital in Taipei and will perform with the Hsinchu Philharmonic Orchestra (新竹愛樂管弦樂團) in Hsinchu.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm (Hsinchu) and Monday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Performance Hall of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs Hsinchu City (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17 Dongda Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號); and Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$400 for Hsinchu and NT$200 to NT$500 for Taipei, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Vienna Boys’ Choir (維也納少年合唱團) begins its week-long tour of Taiwan in Taipei with a concert on Wednesday. The program ranges from classics to international folk songs and contemporary compositions. After Taipei, the choir will perform in Hsinchu, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Changhua.
■ Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.
Contemporary
Hyper Chord — Tommy Emmanuel 2009 Taipei Concert (超越.炫技Tommy Emmanuel 2009台北演奏會) sees the veteran Australian guitarist famed for his complex finger picking style return to Taipei for a single concert.
■ Sunday at 7pm
■ Howard International House, Taipei (台北市福華國際文教館), 30, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段30號)
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$2,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Tonight at the The Wall (這牆) indie band Echo (回聲樂團) brings its stylish electro-rock to the stage. Later in the evening, it’s nu-break and indie-electro DJ Adam Freeland, presented by Chance Chance. Don’t be surprised if you can’t get tickets for Maximilian Hecker, who takes the stage tomorrow night. The German alt-pop singer has a strong following in Taiwan and tickets sold out quickly for his show last year. On Sunday it’s metal bands Valcun, Hekate, EFTC and Forgiveness (恕).
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1).
Tel: (02) 2930-0162.
On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, 8pm and 11pm tomorrow, and 8pm Sunday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight for the early show, NT$900 for later show with Adam Freeland (NT$600 in advance), NT$1,200 (NT$990 in advance) tomorrow and NT$450 (NT$400 in advance) on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Witch House (女巫店) hosts indie rockers Green!Eyes (綠色眼睛) tonight. Taking the stage tomorrow are Puyuma singer Leo Chen (陳永龍), an active member of the Wild Fire Music Troupe, and folk legend Kimbo Hu (胡德夫). On Thursday folk group Curl and Her Friends (捲與她的偷摸大雞) opens for Lidehui (利得彙).
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號).
Tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net:
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
Veteran jazz combo JEG (這個爵士樂團) plays standards, Latin, funk, rock and fusion tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow the venue hosts Taitung-based Aboriginal folk singer Panai (巴奈). Mando-pop singer Shadya (藍又時) makes an appearance on Sunday. Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam.
■ 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). Tel: (02) 2368-7310.
On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. Open jam starts at 9pm. For a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$450 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday
Tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館), it’s Mando-pop singer Chi Hsin-pei (季欣霈). Tomorrow indie act Wizard of Oz (綠野仙蹤) and happy-go-lucky pop and rock band Relax One (輕鬆玩) take the stage. On Wednesday the venue hosts German a capella sensations Stouxingers, who also appear at the Taichung Jazz Festival this Sunday. On Thursday Miaoji Gongdehui (喵濟功德會|) plays fusion, funk and disco. The group opens for Paiwan singer Matzka and his rock-reggae band DeHot.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8:30pm tonight and tomorrow, 7:30pm on Wednesday and 8:30pm on Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$500 Wednesday and NT$400 on Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse
or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會) Twice a Week opens for indie-electro rock band Go Chic. Tomorrow The Freeloaders and punk band Blood Orange split the bill. Performing on Wednesday are An (安) and experimental rockers Godswounds.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow and includes one drink, NT$100 on Wednesday
The Earl Hines II Jazztet appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Black Mirrorplays tomorrow. The venue is closed on Tuesday for maintenance, but is back on Wednesday with Ash and Friends, who play jazz on “unorthodox instruments.” On Thursday, MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團), whose Chinese name refers to the game mahjong, plays fusion, funk and blues.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1).
Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net:
www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is free
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill, there’s an open mic hosted by keyboardist Andrew Page, with the music mainly covering blues and jazz. All are welcome to participate, and participants receive 20 percent off drinks.
■ 1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Tel: (02) 2508- 0304. On the Net: www.cosmo.com.tw
■ 8:30pm to 11pm on Wednesday
■ No entrance fee
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week include beloved female singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, and male crooner Huang Chung-yuan (黃中原), who performs every Friday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北 市安和路二段211號). Tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Tonight 89k in Taichung hosts an evening of punk with Awesome Shit, Handknife and Damnkidz. Tomorrow Kaohsiung expat jam band The Blue Truckers take to the stage.
■ 21 Daguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號)
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
Tomorrow Roxy Roots hosts electric blues band BoPoMoFo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ).
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932.
On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Show starts at 10pm tomorrow
■ Entrance is free
Appearing tonight at Franz and Friends (城市舞台藝文沙龍), are Denise Juan (阮丹青), a former pop singer turned piano teacher and television presenter, and her band Sunshine Costa. Tomorrow it’s Buona Sera, featuring soprano Chang Hsiao-ni (張曉倪).
■ 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號B1). Tel: (02) 2579- 0558. On the Net: www.franzandfriends. com.tw
■ Minimum charge of NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, on other nights there’s a one-drink minimum
The Other Side is a nightclub opened by Ling Wei (凌威), the owner of Taipei’s long-standing Roxy venues. The club sports a modern lounge interior befitting of its locale in Taipei’s East District, and plays danceable rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop and some electronica. Wednesday night is ladies night, with DJs spinning indie rock.
■ B1, 20 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路20號B1). Tel: (02) 2723-3257
■ Open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm until 4am
■ Entrance fee is NT$300 and includes a drink. No cover charge for women on Wednesdays
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