Theater
China’s Tianjin Peking Opera Theatre (天津京劇院) brings together a troupe of award-winning Beijing opera performers from different schools to present 15 classics including Ruse of the Empty City (空城計), The Jewelry Pouch (鎖麟囊) and Prosperity Brought by the Dragon and the Phoenix (龍鳳呈祥).
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2pm and 7pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For contemporary dance piece Too Much Vinegar (黑醋加太多), choreographer Chang Hsiu-ping (張秀萍) from Sun-Shier Dance Theatre (三十五舞蹈劇場) starts with asking questions like “Why does one add too much vinegar?” and “How does one deal with an accident?” as the starting point for an absurd tragedy.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ As for press time, only tickets remain for tomorrow’s show at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Organized by Representation Theatre (再現劇團), Go to Hell (地獄樂團) can best be described as a sort of theme park where visitors can check out live theater and music performances as well as interactive installations and sound pieces at any time of the day before the park closes. All shows and exhibitions at the park are inspired by the idea of hell. For detailed schedules of live performances, go to www.wretch.cc/blog/rpt20080229/12807541.
■ Representation Theatre’s Arts Factory (再現劇團藝術工場), B1, 43, Nanchang Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市南昌路一段43號B1)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday from 2pm to 10pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 10pm
■ Tickets are NT$100, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Guts Improv Theatre (勇氣即興劇場), which bills itself as Taiwan’s first theatrical company that specializes in improvisational theater, presents Unscripted Sci-fi Movie (科幻電影院), a piece that takes audiences on a trip through outer space that no one knows how it will end.
■ Comedy Club, B1, 24 Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街24號B1)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 (includes one drink), available at the door or through tickets.books.com.tw
To celebrate a career that has spanned 50 years, bangzi opera (梆子) diva Wang Hai-ling (王海玲) is treating her fans with a series of performances that include one of her favorite pieces, Carrying the Bridal Sedan Chair (抬花轎), a classic of bangzi opera, otherwise known as Henan opera or yu opera (豫劇). The Taipei shows that took place a couple of weeks ago sold out quickly. Tickets for the Kaohsiung shows are also selling fast.
■ Kaohsiung Chih-teh Hall (高雄至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Fairytale in the Music (童話故事交響樂 — 台中市交響樂團2010定期音樂會) is a regular element of the Taichung City Symphony Orchestra’s (台中市交響樂團) annual program designed specifically for children. The performance will include many popular classical works including marches by Sousa, waltzes and polkas by Strauss and movie music such as the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badlet and the Raiders’ March from the Indiana Jones films by John Williams.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.tickets.com.tw
Fall, 1885, My Sorrow and Loneliness (1885年秋 — 我的哀愁與孤寂) presents pianist Peter Rosel performing with the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) under the baton of guest conductor Pietari Inkinen. The program includes Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98.
■ 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
Borealis String Quartet (加拿大包瑞里斯弦樂四重奏) is a Canadian-based ensemble that came to prominence after making it onto the cover of Opus magazine in 2006. Taiwan-born cellist Chen Shih-lin (陳世霖), who has also worked closely with Hu Nai-yuan’s (胡乃元) Taiwan Connection ensemble, will be joined by Patricia Shih and Yuel Yawney on violin and Nitika Poagrebnoy on viola. The program will include Imant Raminsh’s String Quartet No. 1, Schubert’s Movement for String Quartet in C Minor, Beethoven’s String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 and a selection of Taiwanese folk songs.
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 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 hosts
emo-metal outfit The Hindsight (光景消逝) and pop-punk band Fire Ex (滅火器). Tomorrow world music group A Moving Sound takes the stage in preparation for a European tour. On Thursday it’s The Next Big Thing, a showcase of up-and-coming indie bands.
■ 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 8pm tonight, tomorrow and on Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$500 tonight, NT$600 (NT$500 in advance) tomorrow and NT$200 on Thursday. Tickets available through ERA ticketing, online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw, and at ibon electronics kiosks at 7-Eleven stores
Indie-pop group Miss Silk Stockings (絲襪小姐) appears tonight at The Wall (這牆) to launch a new CD. Tomorrow night features an eclectic lineup including metal band Emerging From the Cocoon, pop-rock group Stand Out! George, funk rockers PageDown and nu-metal band Respect (尊敬樂團). On Sunday it’s Bugs of Phonon (聲子蟲) and post-rock band Sorry Youth (拍謝少年).
■ 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, 7:30pm tomorrow and 8pm on Sunday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, NT$450 (NT$400 in advance) tomorrow and NT$300 on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Alt-rock band the Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦) play tonight at Witch House (女巫店). They open for reggae group Otaku3 (浪行雷鬼團). Girl-group Pleasure Science (愉悅科學) play 80s-influenced rock tomorrow night, sharing the bill with indie-pop band Radicalo. On Thursday it’s indie-electronica outfit Alluvial (阿路米爾).
■ 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
■ Entry for music shows is NT$300
RAY Band (雷樂隊), a trio of veteran session musicians, plays power-rock originals and covers tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Up-and-coming Mando-pop performer Chase Chang (張傑) appears tomorrow. Young rockers Hi Jack and Always Monday perform 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 all other nights. For a list
of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday
Pop singer Jan Tu (杜寶珍), who appeared on the TV reality show Super Idol (超級偶像), sings her signature ballads tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow the venue hosts socially conscious hip-hop outfit Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤) and high-energy garage rockers 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽). On Thursday it’s electronica group Frande and folk rockers Stay Cool.
■ 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, tomorrow and Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$500 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow and on Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
All-girl punk band BB Bomb (BB彈) and pop-punk group GaBA play tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Later on, it’s Earthquake, a dance party with indie rock tunes spun by DJs Randy and Floaty [see story opposite]. Tomorrow, the venue hosts indie-rock band MacBeth (馬克白) and screamo group One Question (一個問題). On Wednesday it’s guitar and drums noise-rock duo SlackTide and Roxymoron.
■ 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 on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on 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
Flaneur Daguerre, a jazz quartet that plays everything Bach to Bjork to Ornette Coleman to the Ramones, performs tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge and jazz venue. Tomorrow it’s the Jo Jo Ma Quartet, led by American expat saxophonist Joseph Marchione.
On Tuesday funk and Latin quartet Ginger Men take the stage.
On Wednesday Flaneur Daguerre appears again to open for renowned Japanese free-jazz drummer
Sabu Toyozumi.
■ 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 10:30pm tonight and tomorrow, 10pm on Tuesday and 9:30pm on Wednesday. Closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$100 tonight and tomorrow and NT$350 on Wednesday; free on Tuesday
Tonight at Roxy Roots it’s acid jazz band Electric MessAge (電子混亂世代) and Trying Times (雙樂團), an
R ’n’ B a capella group. Appearing tomorrow is Tainan expat reggae group The Comboulatorz and
DJ Two Hands.
■ 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 (NT$200 credited toward food and drink)
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week include 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, depending on the performer
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Capone’s, with live music from blues band BoPoMoFo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels are welcome, and beginner’s lessons are offered while the band takes a break. Saturday is Salsa night with live music from Latin on Fire.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ Minimum charge of one drink on Fridays (dancers receive a free drink coupon) and NT$300 on Saturdays
Tomorrow night VU Live House hosts Hungry Ear, an electronic music program featuring live sets from Jindowin (筋斗雲), Telephone Booth (電話亭), The Okay Cars and KbN (凱比鳥). Also appearing are DJs Mamos and vDub.
■ B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Tel: (02) 2314-1868
■ Tomorrow from 8pm
■ Entrance fee is NT$350, includes
one drink
From an anonymous office in a New Delhi mall, matrimonial detective Bhavna Paliwal runs the rule over prospective husbands and wives — a booming industry in India, where younger generations are increasingly choosing love matches over arranged marriage. The tradition of partners being carefully selected by the two families remains hugely popular, but in a country where social customs are changing rapidly, more and more couples are making their own matches. So for some families, the first step when young lovers want to get married is not to call a priest or party planner but a sleuth like Paliwal with high-tech spy
The latest military exercises conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) last week did not follow the standard Chinese Communist Party (CCP) formula. The US and Taiwan also had different explanations for the war games. Previously the CCP would plan out their large-scale military exercises and wait for an opportunity to dupe the gullible into pinning the blame on someone else for “provoking” Beijing, the most famous being former house speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022. Those military exercises could not possibly have been organized in the short lead time that it was known she was coming.
With raging waters moving as fast as 3 meters per second, it’s said that the Roaring Gate Channel (吼門水道) evokes the sound of a thousand troop-bound horses galloping. Situated between Penghu’s Xiyu (西嶼) and Baisha (白沙) islands, early inhabitants ranked the channel as the second most perilous waterway in the archipelago; the top was the seas around the shoals to the far north. The Roaring Gate also concealed sunken reefs, and was especially nasty when the northeasterly winds blew during the autumn and winter months. Ships heading to the archipelago’s main settlement of Magong (馬公) had to go around the west side
When Portugal returned its colony Macao to China in 1999, coffee shop owner Daniel Chao was a first grader living in a different world. Since then his sleepy hometown has transformed into a bustling gaming hub lined with glittering casinos. Its once quiet streets are now jammed with tourist buses. But the growing wealth of the city dubbed the “Las Vegas of the East” has not brought qualities of sustainable development such as economic diversity and high civic participation. “What was once a relaxed, free place in my childhood has become a place that is crowded and highly commercialized,” said Chao. Macao yesterday
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