Theater
Germany’s Tanztheater des Staatstheaters Darmstadt brings Schwanengesang to the stage this weekend as part of the 2010 Taiwan International Festival. Inspired by Belgian poet George Rodenbach’s 1892 novel Bruges-la-Morte, the performance is a modern dance tale about a man enraptured by a young dancer who resembles his late wife. The work was produced by Taiwanese choreographer Lin Mei-hong (林美虹), who studied with Pina Bausch and is the German dance theater’s artistic director.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Also part of the Taiwan International Festival, Emily Dickinson by Colombian theater director Patricia Ariza explores the different faces of the American poet. The work consists of three actresses reading Dickinson’s poems and reflecting on her life, and was produced under the Magdalena Project, initiated in 1986 to promote work by female artists.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A collaboration between Guoguang Opera Company (國光劇團) and the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (台北市立國樂團), Meng Xiaodong (孟小冬) recounts the life of Meng, who took the Chinese opera world by storm in the 1920s with her performances of the male laosheng (老生) role and whose short-lived love affair with Mei Lan-fang (梅蘭芳) is the stuff of legend. Operatic diva Wei Hai-min (魏海敏) plays the lead.
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Chinese Culture University’s (中國文化大學) Hwa Kang Dance Troupe
(華岡舞團) presents an 80-minute program this weekend produced by eight Taiwanese choreographers.
■ 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
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Comedians from the National Taiwan University (國立台灣大學) congregate at the Comedy Club this weekend to put their charms to the test. The cast include MC Birdy, Boy Blue (憂鬱少年) and Chen Yan-pin (陳彥斌).
■ Comedy Club, B1, 24 Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街24號B1)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 8pm, Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$250 at the door, one drink included.
Classical music
Amaury Coeytaux and Josu de Solaun (愛莫瑞&祐族奏鳴曲、獨奏音樂會) brings French-born violinist Amaury Coeytaux and Spanish pianist Josu de Solaun to Taipei to perform a program of Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No 5 in F Major, Op 24, Eugene Ysaye’s Third Sonata Op 27 Dedicated to Enesco and Falla’s Suite Populaire Espagnole.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$1,000 to NT$2,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
The 2010 Taipei Bach Festival
(發現巴赫) continues this week with its “Discovery series” lecture concerts, directed by Bach expert Helmuth Rilling, at the International Convention Center of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation Building (財團法人張榮發基金會國際會議中心). The work being celebrated by this series of lectures is the St John Passion. Tonight’s lecture concert focuses on the crucifixion and death of Jesus and tomorrow’s on the burial. The festival ends with the Taiwan premiere of a full concert presentation of the St John Passion on Sunday at the National Concert Hall. Performers include Lothar Odinius (tenor), Lee Pei-ying (李佩穎, soprano), Fan Ting-yu (范婷玉, alto), David Dong-Geun Kim (金東根, baritone) and Tsai Wen-hao (蔡文浩, baritone) together with the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團) and Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團). [See story on Page 13.]
■ Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 1:30pm (lecture concerts) and Sunday at 7:30pm (full concert)
■ Lecture concerts at the International Convention Center of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation Building (財團法人張榮發基金會國際會議中心), 11 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路11號). The full concert is at the National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets for lecture concerts are NT$400 and for the full concerts are NT$800 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
NSO Highlights — Spirits on the Tip of Toes (NSO精選 — 鞋尖上的精靈) presents pianist Kun Woo Paik performing with the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) under the baton of Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉). The program includes Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet: Suite No. 3, Op. 101 and Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16, along with Stravinsky’s The Firebird. A pre-concert talk in the main lobby of the National Concert Hall half an hour before the performance commences will be given by Wang Shih-chiang (王世強).
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight the venue has a lineup that features renowned trance DJ John O’Callaghan. Tomorrow is Legacy’s Chinese pop classics night, with tunes spun by pop singer-turned-electronica artist Lim Giong (林強), as well as a “mystery guest” DJ. On Wednesday it’s all-girl band The Fen-Fens (紛紛樂團), Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員) and Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子)
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 11pm tonight, 10pm tomorrow, 8pm Wednesday
■ Tonight’s show is NT$1,000. Entrance is NT$600 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance) and NT$400 Wednesday. Prices include one drink. Tickets are available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or
www.legacy.com.tw, or at ibon electronics kiosks at 7-Eleven stores
Alt-pop band 13 (拾參) appears tonight at The Wall (這牆) with special guest Ah-kai (阿凱), lead singer of 1976. Tomorrow is an electro-rock dance party presented by DJs Bounce Girlz, featuring Go Chic, which is releasing its debut album, and DJs Recoride, Dino and SwingChild. On Sunday the venue hosts metal bands Nemesis (天譴), Dying Chelsea, The Eye of Violent (暴力之眼) and Hekate.
■ 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
■ Music shows start at 8pm tonight, 10pm tomorrow, 8pm Sunday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance) and NT$300 Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Experimental solo performer Wang Yu-Chun (王榆鈞) takes the stage tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Aboriginal folk singer Panai (巴奈) appears tomorrow. No shows are scheduled for Thursday as of press time.
■ 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
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts The Sound of Jazz Quartet (爵士四重奏之聲), which plays classic numbers by Ornette Coleman and Thelonius Monk. Tomorrow pop singer Shino Lin (林曉培) takes the stage. Sunday is an evening of jazz with Ginger Man and Skyline Jazz Band, which plays bossa nova, soul, funk, fusion and R ‘n’ B. 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 and Sunday. Monday’s 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, tomorrow and Sunday and NT$150 Monday.
Timeless Fusion Party (無限融合黨), jazz fusion band led by pianist Fred Lu (呂聖斐) and Tony Tung (董舜文), performs tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow the venue hosts several singers who have appeared on the reality TV show Super Idol (超級偶像): Filipe King (杜俊瑋) and Will Lin (林威良). No shows are scheduled for Sunday. On Thursday the venue hosts Sunny 4 and Taitung Puyuma folk musician Hao-en (昊恩).
■ 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, 8pm tomorrow and Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$500 tonight and tomorrow and NT$400 Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
One-man electro-rock band Sonic Deadhorse and indie-rock group Tunnel of Light appear tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow it’s indie-electronica outfit Heartones (心電樂) and Yoztiger (包子虎), a solo project by a former member of post-rock band Sugar Plum Fairy (甜梅號). Emo-punks Lucy Overdrive (超速露西) and post-rock band Emily (艾蜜莉) take the stage on Wednesday.
■ 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
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink, and NT$100 on Wednesdays
Earl Hines II Jazztet performs tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow French jazz trombonist Oliver Baron leads a quartet playing original compositions and jazz standards. On Tuesday the venue hosts an open jam, and on Wednesday it’s the World Music Ensemble (世界音樂饗宴), when musicians combine the sounds of the cello, Middle Eastern drums and the pipa (琵琶)or Chinese lute. On Thursday the Emo Jazz Trio takes the stage.
■ 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
■ Music shows begin at 10pm all nights except Tuesday’s program, which begins at 9:30pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$100 tomorrow, NT$200 on Wednesday, free on other nights
Tonight Roxy Roots hosts bluesy garage rockers Celluloid (賽璐璐). Tomorrow Space Funk hits the stage, followed by a DJ set by Tom Leeming. On Wednesdays the venue holds an open jam night. This week’s event is hosted by rapper Leo37.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932.
On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, of which NT$200 can be used to purchase food and drinks
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, Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛隆), who performs every Saturday.
■ 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
■ Music shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850
The Mercury (水星酒館) in Kaohsiung features indie bands every week. This week it’s cover band Liger Attack.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號).
Tel: (07) 550-8617.
On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Tomorrow at 8:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$200
Tonight the Light Lounge in Taichung hosts garage rockers My Skin Against Your Skin, hip-hop crew Dr Reniculous Lipz and The Skallyuns and post-rock group The Looking Glass. Also appearing is trip-hop musician Ritchie Partridge, formerly of Massive Attack. [See story on Page 14.]
■ 85 Huamei W St Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市華美西街一段85號)
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 for men (includes a drink), free for women
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