HIGHLIGHT
With a program of nine theatrical productions (six local and three from abroad) that examine emotions and relationships, the 2010 Taipei Arts Festival (第十二屆臺北藝術節) begins next week. The festival kicks off on Thursday with Hey Girl!, a provocative — some might say disturbing — take on the history of female oppression by Italian director Romeo Castellucci.
In addition to some great theater by the likes of Robert Lepage, Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Company (莎士比亞的妹妹們的劇團) and All Music Theater (音樂時代劇場), the festival includes lectures and an outdoor public art exhibition. For complete program details and times, visit www.taipeifestival.org (English and Chinese). Read next Friday’s Around Town for the full preview.
Hey Girl! will be performed at the Taipei Brewery (台北啤酒文化園區), also known as the Taipei Beer Factory, 85, Bade Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市八德路二段85號)
■Thursday at 7:30pm, Aug. 6 and Aug. 7 at 7:45pm, Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 at 2:45pm
■Admission is NT$1,200. Tickets are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
--Noah Buchan
THEATER
A collaboration between Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company (唐美雲歌仔戲團) and Xiamen Gezai Opera Troupe (廈門市歌仔戲劇團), Unfading Love (蝴蝶之戀) tells the love story of two gezai opera (歌仔戲) performers separated from each other for 38 years by the Taiwan Strait.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
Creative Society Theatre Company’s (創作社劇團) acclaimed He Is My Wife, He Is My Mother (少年金釵男孟母) returns to the stage in Taipei this weekend. Inspired by a short story penned by best-selling Chinese author Li Yu (李漁) during the early Qing Dynasty, the work updates Li’s cross-gender spectacle with a 21st-century sensitivity and wit. The play is performed in Chinese with English subtitles. [See story above.]
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through available through
NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
Based on Charles Perrault’s fairy tale of the same name, Thumbkin by Societas Raffaello Sanzio from Italy is performed in front of audiences seated on beds as if they were listening to a bedtime story. The play is part of the ongoing 2010 Taipei Children Arts Festival (第十一屆台北兒童藝術節). For more information, visit www.taipeicaf.org.tw.bed.
■ 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
and Wednesday at 10:30am, 2:30pm
and 7:30pm, Sunday at 10:30am
and 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 for one and
NT$350 for two, available through
NTCH ticketing outlets
As part of the Xinbei City International Arts Festival (2010新北市藝術節), Strange Fruit from Australian and Italy’s Teatro Due Mondi will bring Spheres and Oriente, respectively, to the Bitan (碧潭) area, right outside Xindian (Sindian) MRT Station (新店捷運站). Strange Fruit is internationally known for its fusion of dance, theater and circus featuring performers atop 5m-high flexible poles. Teatro Due Mondi is known for mixing street theater with clown acts. On the Net: www.xinbei-arts.com.
■ East Riverside Plaza (東岸廣場), Bitan, Sindian, Taipei County (台北縣新店碧潭)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 7pm
■ Free admission
Part of the ongoing 2010 Kaohsiung Theater Festival (2010正港小劇展), You Are One Minute Late to Open the Door (遲到一分鐘打開門) by Tainaner Ensemble (台南人劇團) is all about the decisive moments in life, moments that involve family, friends and lovers. For more information about the festival, go to php.trying.com.tw/dramatic.
■ Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區), 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30 and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300, available
through ERA ticketing or online at
www.ticket.com.tw
CLASSICAL MUSIC
The 2010 Taipei International Choral Festival (台北國際合唱音樂節) continues this week with three more days of performances. Tonight’s concert is by the University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, performing under the baton of conductor Kent Hatteberg. Tomorrow the Yoon Hakwon Chorale from South Korea under the baton of founder Yoon Hak-won will be supported by the choir of the alumni of the Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School. A final concert on Sunday will feature both of the visiting groups in the Taiwan premiere of Mendelssohn’s Die Erste Walpurgisnacht Op. 60 featuring Chen Pei-Chi (陳�?, alto, Liau Chong-boon (廖聰文), bass, and Kong Siao-cheng (孔孝誠), tenor, and supported by the Festival Choir (節慶合唱團), the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團) and the Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (台北愛樂青年管弦樂團). On the Net: www.tpf.org.tw.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Straits Philharmonic Orchestra Concert (海峽愛樂樂團兩岸巡演音樂會) will feature the orchestra performing under the baton of former National Symphony Orchestra conductor Chien Wen-pin (簡文彬) and featuring soprano Dilber Yunus. The program includes Liu Hsueh-hsuan’s (劉學軒) The Stone Lion of the Sanxia Jushi Temple (三峽祖師廟的石獅子), Kuo Wen-ching’s (郭文景) Mountain Sacrifice (山之祭), composed in commemoration of the Wenchuan Earthquake, as well as Gliere’s Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite.
■ Sunday at 7:45pm (Taipei) and Monday at 7:30pm (Taichung)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and Chunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung
(台中中興堂), 291-3 Jingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taiwan National Choir 2010 Concert — Romantic Love Songs, an Evening of Lieder (國立實驗合唱團2010音樂會 — 藝術歌曲之夜－浪漫情歌) presents the Taiwan National Choir, a group established to “help young vocalists develop their careers” performing a program of lieder by Schumann, Brahms, Mahler and others.
■ Tuesday at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 and NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
CONTEMPORARY
Tonight Ian Brown performs at Legacy Taipei as part of the TWinkle Rock Festival. Tomorrow is a full evening of pop, hard rock and metal from indie bands Monkey Insane (潑猴), Dizzy Butterfly (旋轉蝴蝶), Mutaker, Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子), Overdose, Lazy Lady Mister Mouth (嘴哥) and Respect (尊敬樂團).
■ 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 8:30pm tonight and 6pm tomorrow
■ Admission is NT$1,800 tonight, NT$700 tomorrow (NT$500 in advance). Tickets can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw
or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Indie rockers Green!Eyes and Windmill (風籟坊) perform tonight at The Wall [see story on Page 14]. Tomorrow night folk rockers Stay Cool take the stage. On Sunday Japanese glam rock band NoGod makes an appearance. On Thursday it’s German group Atari Teenage Riot [see story on Page 13], pioneers of the digital hardcore sub-genre of electronica music.
■ 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 and tomorrow, 7:30pm on Sunday, 8:20pm on Thursday
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$1,500 on Sunday and NT$1,500 (NT$1,200 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店)
hosts pop rocker Misi Ke (柯泯薰)
and her band D-Power. Also appearing is solo acoustic rocker Erin Xia (夏寧杉). Tomorrow Sissey Chao (趙一豪) performs new material, which sees the revered rocker dabbling in trip-hop and downtempo beats. Acoustic indie-rock band Silverbus (銀巴士) plays on Thursday, followed by dance rock
band Tonic.
■ 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
■ Admission for music shows is NT$300
Dark Eyes performs gypsy jazz tonight at the Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Taiwanese songstress Ting (庭竹) and The Little appear tomorrow. On Sunday Mando-pop songwriter Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) performs with New York jazz pianist Alex Pryrodny. Also on the bill is Hong Kong pop singer Kelly Poon
(潘嘉麗). 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
■ Admission is NT$400 tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday, NT$150 on Monday
No shows are scheduled tonight as of press time at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow the venue hosts Biung (王宏恩), a Golden Melody Award-winning singer from the Bunun tribe who has just released a new album. On Sunday it’s chanteuse Waa Wei (魏如萱), better known as Waa (娃娃). Fingerstyle guitarist pair Woody Woody performs on Thursday.
■ 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 tomorrow, 8pm on Sunday, 8:30pm on Thursday
■ Entry is NT$500 tomorrow and Sunday, NT$400 on Thursday. Tickets can be bought online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) hosts an evening of theatrical tap dancing to rock music from In Tap (音踏聯合) and Danceworks (舞工場舞團), with a hip-hop set later on spun by DJ crew Liugui (六腳). Tomorrow popular indie-rock groups Yoz Tiger (包子虎) and Boyz and Girl split the bill. On Wednesday it’s Fairy Tale (童話) and Honeysuckle.
■ 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
Coromandel Express performs a “musical masala” of jazz, classical and world music tonight at Sappho de Base, the late-night lounge bar and hangout for musicians from Taipei’s jazz and blues scene. Appearing tomorrow are Taipei-based drummer Ed Schaefer and his group. On Tuesday it’s drummer Roger Wang (王洛詰) and his trio, on Wednesday it’s New York pianist Alex Pryrodny, and on Thursday TNT Jazz leads an open jam.
■ 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
■ Entrance is NT$100 tonight and tomorrow, NT$200 on Wednesday, free on other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesday, renowned Aboriginal female singer Samingad (紀曉君) on Thursday, 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
■ 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 Roxy Roots hosts an evening of ska from Skaraoke. Tomorrow it’s modern flamenco from Alma Itana.
■ 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 for music shows is NT$300 (NT$200 credited toward food and drink)
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight features power-pop band NPMC (北衛) and upbeat punk rockers Punkhoo (胖虎). Tomorrow veteran indie-pop group 1976 performs. On Sunday acoustic folk group Staycool appears along with The Girl and The Robots.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw,
www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$300 tonight and Sunday, NT$400 tomorrow
Taichung punk band Hand Knife (熱粉紅) performs tomorrow at The Mercury (水星酒館), a small club that hosts indie bands in Kaohsiung. Also appearing is local indie-rock band Youth Banana.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9:30pm
■ Admission is NT$200
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. Tomorrow there’s light rock music from Supernova.
■ 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). On Saturdays the minimum charge is NT$300
EVENT
This Sunday, mixed martial arts fighters do battle at Luxy. Organized by the Pacific Rim Organization, the PRO Fighting 4: 180 night is divided into eight battles, with fighters hailing from New Zealand, Taiwan, Canada, South Korea and Guam. The flyer promises “full-contact striking, powerful takedowns, joint locks, breathtaking chokeholds and action-packed fights.”
■ Luxy, 5F, 201, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段201號5樓)
■ Doors open at 5pm on Sunday, fights begin at 6pm
■ Tickets are NT$1,000 for ringside seats and NT$500 for standing. Both include one drink. Tickets are available online, by calling 0917-840-519 and at the door
■ On the Net: www.luxy-taipei.com, www.profightingmma.com
A jumbo operation is moving 20 elephants across the breadth of India to the mammoth private zoo set up by the son of Asia’s richest man, adjoining a sprawling oil refinery. The elephants have been “freed from the exploitative logging industry,” according to the Vantara Animal Rescue Centre, run by Anant Ambani, son of the billionaire head of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sheer scale of the self-declared “world’s biggest wild animal rescue center” has raised eyebrows — including more than 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles, according to
They were four years old, 15 or only seven months when they were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald and Ravensbruck. Some were born there. Somehow they survived, began their lives again and had children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren themselves. Now in the evening of their lives, some 40 survivors of the Nazi camps tell their story as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious of the death camps. In 15 countries, from Israel to Poland, Russia to Argentina, Canada to South Africa, they spoke of victory over absolute evil. Some spoke publicly for the first
Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, from Sunday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 2, there will be no Features pages. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Feb. 3, when Features will also be resumed. Kung Hsi Fa Tsai!
When 17-year-old Lin Shih (林石) crossed the Taiwan Strait in 1746 with a group of settlers, he could hardly have known the magnitude of wealth and influence his family would later amass on the island, or that one day tourists would be walking through the home of his descendants in central Taiwan. He might also have been surprised to see the family home located in Wufeng District (霧峰) of Taichung, as Lin initially settled further north in what is now Dali District (大里). However, after the Qing executed him for his alleged participation in the Lin Shuang-Wen Rebellion (林爽文事件), his grandsons were
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