Theater
For Lively Night Market (七里香), Jade & Artists Dance Troupe (肢體音符舞團) invited three young choreographers to create a joint contemporary dance piece inspired by the unique culture of Taiwanese night markets. [See story on the right.]
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of Chen You-wen
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Little Child (男孩) by Short One Player Theater Group (三缺一劇團) uses puppets and human actors to depict a little boy’s imaginary world. The play’s scriptwriter and director Wei Chuan-chan (魏雋展) said he imagined what his relationship with his father, who fell into a coma when Wei was in fifth grade and passed away nine years later, would have been like when creating the work.
Photo courtesy of Short One Player Theater Group
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 11am and 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$450, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A collaboration between Godot Theatre Company (果陀劇場) and Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團), Chen Cheng Po’s Life (我是油彩的化身) is a musical that charts the life of Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波), a celebrated Taiwanese painter who was born in Chiayi before Japan’s annexation of Taiwan in 1895 and was executed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) troops shortly after the 228 Incident.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight, Sunday and Monday at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw.
Gulliver’s Travels (格列佛遊記), a children’s theatrical production by Theatre de la Sardine (沙丁龐克劇團), takes audiences on a fantasy trip to the world imagined by Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift in his 1726 novel. The play is suitable for children aged five and above.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For his new work, titled Reenactment (重演), Taiwanese choreographer Chou Shu-yi (周書毅) teams up with fashion designer Lin Ching-ju (林璟如) and nine dancers to examine concepts of memory and time.
■ Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號)
■ Tomorrow at 5pm and 7pm
■ Free admission
Classical music
Wan Hai Charity Concert ─ NSO Symphony of a Thousand (萬海慈善音樂饗宴 NSO 千人歡唱 ─ 馬勒第八) is a big-ticket staging of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E-flat Major, one of the largest scale choral works in the classical concert repertoire. It is sometimes referred to as the “Symphony of a Thousand.” The production sees the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) performing in partnership with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團), the Taipei Philharmonic Choir (台北愛樂合唱團), the NTU Alumni Choir (台大校友合唱團), La Voix d’Azur Choir (蔚藍之聲合唱團), and the Taipei Huahsin Children’s Choir (台北華新兒童合唱團). Singers include sopranos Irene Theorin, Lin Ling-hwei (林玲慧) and Lin Meng-chun (林孟君), mezzo-soprano Chen Hsing-an (陳興安), alto Weng Jo-pei (翁若珮), tenor Park Ki-chun, baritone Wu Bai Yu-hsi (巫白玉璽), and bass Li Liang (李曉良). They will be performing under the baton of Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉). [See story on page 14.]
■ Sunday and Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets priced from NT$1,500 to NT$3,000 are still available for Sunday’s performance. They can be purchased through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw. The Double Ten Day performance is sold out.
Sound of a Thousand Pipes (千管齊發) will see the National Concert Hall organ given a workout by Chen Hsiang-yu (陳相瑜), who performs alongside trumpeter Yeh Shu-han (葉樹涵). The program includes the first movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Altenburg’s Concerto for Seven Trumpets, Mozart’s Trumpet Concerto in D Major and Saint-Preux’s Concerto for One Voice.
■ Tuesday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
The Taipei Metro Exit Music Festival concludes tomorrow with a free show at Shilin MRT Station (士林捷運站). Performers include 83-year-old crooner Wen Hsia (文夏) and female vocalist Fu Wei (傅葳), both of whom are best known for singing classic songs in Hoklo [commonly known as Taiwanese].
■ Taipei Metro Exit Music Festival, Shilin MRT Station (士林捷運站)
■ 3pm to 5pm
■ Entrance is free
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. No shows are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow, but on Sunday the venue hosts a mini-festival of Japanese indie rock bands: 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Te’, and Mudy on the 昨晚. Also on the bill are local garage band favorites The White Eyes (白目樂隊) and post-rock influenced Silverbus (銀色巴士). On Wednesday, harpist and flutist Paige Su (蘇珮卿) performs in support of the release of her debut jazz fusion EP.
■ 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)
■ Show starts at 5pm
■ Admission is NT$2,200 on Sunday (NT$2,000 in advance), NT$600 (NT$450 in advance) on Wednesday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight is an evening of heavy metal at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Performers include Japanese groups Head Phones President and Survive 2011. Local group Eye of Violence opens the show. Two peppy and funky garage bands, Fun People (放屁伯樂團) and Mary See the Future, take to the stage tomorrow, followed by a dance party titled Organik 013 Smoke Machine Showcase, featuring DJs Diskonnected, Petstov, Straightliner and CMBI. On Sunday, American emo-thrash group Story of the Year takes to the stage. The group last visited Taiwan in 2009. On Thursday, it’s Fetish People (癡人), post-rock group Unfit Chair (難坐的椅子) and ambient electronica artist Empty Space on a Chessboard (棋盤上的空格).
■ 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
■ NT$600 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow for the bands (NT$400 in advance) and NT$500 for dance party later, and NT$1,200 on Sunday (NT$1,000 in advance) and NT$400 on Thursday (NT$300 in advance). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts the Jazz Plus Trio (爵士加三重奏). Indie folk band Hush! takes to the stage tomorrow night, and on Thursday it’s folk rocker Dorian Chan (詹宇庭).
■ 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
■ Shows 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 for music shows is NT$300
We Are So Sad (傷心欲絕) and psychedelic rockers Sleaze (湯湯水水) take to the stage tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Tomorrow it’s post-rock groups Unfit Chair (難坐的椅子) and Double Cheese (大波起司). On Wednesday, the venue hosts hard rock upstarts Dream Walker and pop punk band Who Are You? (隱藏人物).
■ 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 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. 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. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts Real Collective Jazz Quartet (爵士四重奏) tonight. Mando-pop singer Jiwasi Dulan (吳亦帆) and Voter Hsu (徐哲緯) take to the stage tomorrow. On Sunday, it’s folk and pop rock group Vast and Hazy and solo folk rocker Dorian Chan (詹宇庭). 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
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Jazz-rock group Seven Shekels (七舍客勒) performs tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow the venue hosts pop-rock act Color Band and on Thursday, it’s the H.B.C Trio, a group of top-notch American studio musicians, including guitarist Scott Henderson, bassist Jeff Berlin and drummer Dennis Chambers.
■ 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
■ NT$400 tomorrow and Saturday and NT$1,500 to NT$4,000 on Thursday (call for venue for details). Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Bassist Ash Hines and friends perform tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow it’s blues, funk, and psychedelic soul from Blues Vibrations. On Tuesday, the house band leads an open jam, and on Wednesday, MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團) plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues. Emo Jazz Trio performs on Thursday.
■ 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 start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$150 tonight, NT$200 tomorrow, free other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 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
Italian restaurant Capone’s, hosts Taipei Swing’s weekly social on Fridays. All are welcome to join and a beginner’s lesson is offered. Music is provided by electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Wednesday nights, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas and bassist Rick Taira.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
Tomorrow, The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan, hosts Alice and Her Musicians, which plays rock, country and pop hits.
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts live music performances every Saturday. The venue celebrates the Double Ten Day weekend with music and barbecue parties tomorrow and Sunday. Tomorrow features alt-rock band Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦), funk and soul group Funky Brothers (放客兄弟) and punk outfit Inhuman Species (非人物種). On Sunday, it’s The Silence (沉默之音), high energy garage rockers 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽) and blues/garage rockers Celluloid (賽璐璐).
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 7pm
■ Entrance is NT$400 each day, NT$700 for two days. Price includes all-you-can eat barbecue food
The Gathering for Indigenous Peoples’ Dance and Music, which features musicians from Taiwan, Finland, Tuva and Mongolia, takes place tomorrow afternoon at Sinle Primary School in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County. The event is being held by the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation (原族民族文化事業基金會) and Trees Music and Art (大大樹音樂圖像), the producers of the Migration Music Festival. Performers include Tuvan throat-singing folk and rock group Yat-kha and Mongolian singer Urna Chahar-Tugchi, as well as local Aboriginal artists Inka Mbing (雲力思) and Suming (舒米恩).
■ Sinle Elementary School Athletic Field (新樂國小操場), 10, Neighborhood 1, Sinle Village, Shiding Township, Hsinchu County (新竹縣尖石鄉新樂村一鄰10號)
■ 3pm to 7:30pm
■ Entrance is free. A free shuttle bus leaves from the Taiwan Railway Administration’s Neiwan Train Station (內灣車站) at 12:30pm and 1pm. For more information on the event, call Hsinchu County’s Jianshi Township Office at (03) 584-1001
March 10 to March 16 Although it failed to become popular, March of the Black Cats (烏貓進行曲) was the first Taiwanese record to have “pop song” printed on the label. Released in March 1929 under Eagle Records, a subsidiary of the Japanese-owned Columbia Records, the Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) lyrics followed the traditional seven characters per verse of Taiwanese opera, but the instrumentation was Western, performed by Eagle’s in-house orchestra. The singer was entertainer Chiu-chan (秋蟾). In fact, a cover of a Xiamen folk song by Chiu-chan released around the same time, Plum Widow Missing Her Husband (雪梅思君), enjoyed more
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More than 100,000 people were killed in a single night 80 years ago yesterday in the US firebombing of Tokyo, the Japanese capital. The attack, made with conventional bombs, destroyed downtown Tokyo and filled the streets with heaps of charred bodies. The damage was comparable to the atomic bombings a few months later in August 1945, but unlike those attacks, the Japanese government has not provided aid to victims and the events of that day have largely been ignored or forgotten. Elderly survivors are making a last-ditch effort to tell their stories and push for financial assistance and recognition. Some are speaking
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