Theater
Seventeen years after he directed the theatrical play Thunder Storm (雷雨), 81-year-old film maestro Lee Hsing (李行) returns to the stage with Summer Snow (夏雪). Adapted from the popular story The Mistrial of Do’er (竇娥冤) by Yuan Dynasty playwright Guan Hanqing (關漢卿), this top-notch production includes big-name artists such as film director Wang Tung (王童), composers Gerald Shih (史擷詠) and Chuang Nu (莊奴) and playwright Sun Yang (孫陽) on its lineup.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$350 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Shenzo’s Electric Stunt Orchestra is staging A Stunt Opera, an “aerial performance” of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons that combines music, theater, stunts and acrobatics, as part of the Xinbei City International Arts Festival (2010新北市藝術節). For more information, go to 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 7:30pm
■ Free admission
Choreographed by Yu Neng-sheng (余能盛), The Door (門) is Chamber Ballet Taipei’s (台北市內芭蕾) newest production. Guest performers include Nadja Saidakova from the ballet of National Opera Berlin and Richard Szabo from the ballet of National Opera Vienna.
■ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center (台南市立文化中心), 332, Jhonghua E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 3pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
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.
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂), 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
Fantasy Party Invitation (男人幫之一夜夜笙歌) by Open Theater (大開劇團), part of the ongoing 2010 Kaohsiung Theater Festival (2010正港小劇展), opens with three men excitedly waiting for a party to begin at a karaoke den. But the hot, young female escorts they’ve been expecting to see don’t show up, and instead they find that they’re trapped in the room. 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)
■ Tonight at 8pm, tomorrow at 2:30 and 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$300, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical music
Evening of Chopin Songs & Chamber Music (藝術歌曲與室內樂之夜) continues the celebrations to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth. This concert features soprano Huang Rui-fen (黃瑞芬) accompanied by pianist Yeh Lu-na (葉綠娜) performing a program of 17 polish songs, and cellist Chen Yen-rung (陳妍蓉), pianist Lu Yi-chi (盧易之) and violinist Liang Chien-wen (梁茜雯) performing Chopin’s Cello Sonata Op. 65 and Piano Trio Op. 8. On Sunday, a second part of the program titled Evening of Chopin Orchestra and Piano Music (管絃樂與鋼琴之夜) will be performed featuring the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團) under Gernot Schmalfuss and soloists including Eric Chen (陳冠宇).
■ Today and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
JU Percussion Group Children’s Concert (2010朱宗慶打擊樂團兒童音樂會全國巡演), subtitled “Percussion Superman” (擊樂超人), will be starting its national tour today at Taipei’s Novel Hall (新舞臺) before moving on to other venues around the country. The tour will continue through to Oct. 2. Because tonight’s show will be recorded, tickets will be sold at a 40 percent discount.
■ Today and tomorrow 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday 10:30am
and 2:30pm
■ Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Evolution — Liu Chih-yuan Huqin Concert (進化狂想 — 劉致遠胡琴獨奏會) features a program of contemporary and classic pieces for the huqin (胡琴), which will be performed by Liu Chih-yuan (劉致遠) with accompaniment from pianist Chang Chiao-hui (張喬慧) and the Chai Found Music Workshop (采風樂坊).
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tonight Legacy Taipei hosts indie groups recognized at this year’s battle of the bands competition at the Ho-Hai-Yan Gung-Liau Rock Festival (台北縣貢寮國際海洋音樂祭). Runners-up The Silence (沉默之音), Solidor (固定客) and Beright (做對樂團) open for winner Queen Suitcase (皇后皮箱), which plays retro rock and indie pop. No shows are scheduled tomorrow as of press time. On Sunday, local indie-rock favorites 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽) throw a party to launch their new live DVD. Also appearing is indie-pop band 13 (拾參). Quruli, dubbed by promoters as “Japan’s Coldplay,” which performs
on Wednesday.
■ 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, 8:30pm Sunday, 8pm on Wednesday
■ Admission is NT$500 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow (NT$500 in advance), NT$1,500 on Wednesday (NT$1,200 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
Tizzy Bac’s shows tonight and tomorrow at The Wall are already sold out. On Sunday, post-rock group Aphasia (阿飛西雅) and indie-electronica band Telephone Booth (電話亭) open for Japanese indie rock band Tonic. On Tuesday the venue hosts Fanfarlo, a London-based indie-pop band.
■ 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, 8pm on Sunday and Tuesday
■ Tonight and tomorrow’s shows are sold out. Admission is NT$400 on Sunday and NT$1,200 on Tuesday (NT$1,000 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店) hosts neo-folk singer Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) and reggae/dub outfit Otaku3. Tomorrow it’s Corners of Nowhere, a project by a visiting British musician that mixes live music and singing with sampled beats and electronica. The venue opens on Wednesday for a special show by Chinese jazz ensemble Sizhukong (絲竹空). Aboriginal pop-rock singer Black Aries (黑色牡羊) appears on Thursday.
■ 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
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts The Sound of Jazz Quartet, which includes as a member the young and talented drummer Doris Lin (林文昱). Tomorrow it’s pop singer Olivia Yan (閻韋伶) and her band Invisible Garden (閻韋伶與桃花源樂團), and indie rockers Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子). Performing on Sunday are two aspiring Mando-pop artists, singer Frida Li (利得彙) and keyboardist Hsiao Lu (小路). 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
Pop-rock band Mojo takes the stage tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow the venue hosts pop singer Z-Chen (張智成). No shows are scheduled for Sunday as of press time. On Thursday it’s garage rockers Mary See The Future and Picks (痞克四).
■ 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
■ Admission is NT$500 tonight and tomorrow and NT$400 on Thursday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) hosts Hoklo-singing indie rockers Windmill (風籟坊) and indie-pop band The Shine & Shine & Shine & Shine. Tomorrow expat retro rockers The Deadly Vibes share the bill with another expat band, the Okay Cars [see story above]. On Wednesday it’s XOXOXO (咻咻咻) and Aiphy.
■ 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
Pianist Hsu Yu-ying (許郁瑛) and friends perform tonight at Sappho de Base, the late-night lounge bar and hangout for musicians from Taipei’s jazz and blues scene. Performing tomorrow are Taipei-based drummer Ed Schaefer and his band. On Tuesday it’s Yohei Jazz Trio. Wednesday is an evening of “underground tapping” by Danceworks (舞工場舞團). On Thursday trumpeter Adam MacBlane performs with his trio.
■ 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
■ All music shows begin at 10pm, except for Wednesday, when shows begin at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$100 tonight and tomorrow, 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. [See story on Page 13.]
■ 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
Tonight Roxy Roots hosts Adoga (阿逗仔), an expat band that prides itself on performing covers of Western hard rock songs as well as Chinese and Taiwanese rock classics. Tomorrow it’s disco funk and acid jazz with Electric Message and pop-ska group Pops Candy (跳跳糖).
■ 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 drinks)
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 Japanese indie rock band Tonic, with local bands Silverbus (銀巴士) and Orange Doll (橘娃娃). Mando-pop singer Princess Ai (戴愛玲) performs tomorrow.
■ 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 NT$600 tomorrow
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 it’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
The Chinese-Taipei Ice Hockey League is offering summer ice-skating and hockey workshops at Taipei Arena Ice Land (台北小巨蛋副館冰上樂園) every Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 29 from 9am to 11am in conjunction with ASN (All Sports Network) Taiwan. Admission is free, there are no age restrictions, and necessary equipment will be provided, but reservations are necessary. To reserve a space, call Portico Media at (02) 2701-9901, leave your name and phone number, the date you wish to attend, the number of tickets needed (limit four per household) and indicate which workshop (ice-skating or hockey) you want to participate in. Tickets can be picked up on the scheduled day at the ASN Taiwan booth in the Max Sports store on the first floor of Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋).
■ Taipei Arena Ice Land (台北小巨蛋副館冰上樂園) at Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋), 2, Nanjing E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市南京東路四段2號)
■ 9am to 11am every Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 29
■ On the Net: www.cihl.com.tw, www.taipeiarena.org.tw/web/w06/w0601.aspx
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During the Japanese colonial era, remote mountain villages were almost exclusively populated by indigenous residents. Deep in the mountains of Chiayi County, however, was a settlement of Hakka families who braved the harsh living conditions and relative isolation to eke out a living processing camphor. As the industry declined, the village’s homes and offices were abandoned one by one, leaving us with a glimpse of a lifestyle that no longer exists. Even today, it takes between four and six hours to walk in to Baisyue Village (白雪村), and the village is so far up in the Chiayi mountains that it’s actually
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