Performance
French beats
The French Lyon Percussion Ensemble and students from the Central Conservatory of China will stage a concert of percussion and electric music. Established in 1983, the Lyon Percussion Ensemble include Raphael Aggery, Sylvie Aubelle, Henri-Charie Caget, Gilles Dumoulin and Gerard Lecointe. They combine the traditional music, jazz and modern rhythm. 10-60 yuan. 7pm, Apr 29. Peking University Concert Hall, Peking University, Haidian District. 6275-2279.
Opera without song
Recitals of Peking Opera arias will be performed. Instead of singing, the reading out of the opera lyrics emphasises the rhythmic flavor of the traditional art.
The China Peking Opera Theater will host 16 senior and young performers reciting lyrics over five hours. Without the accompaniment of instruments, the performance needs refined basic skill and grasp of rhythm. Programs are traditional and modern opera excerpts. 4:30-9:30pm, May 1. Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square. 6559-8285. ,
Spanish society
The Spanish La Fura dels Baus Theater will bring its typical production, Empire, to Beijing. The play explores the conflict between people and the society. The pattern of human relations, the difference between two social parties, as well as the physical and mental contradiction compose the main storyline. Audiences also become one part of the performance. Established in 1979, the theater is an innovative group with avant-garde programs. In Spanish with Chinese subtitles. 100 yuan. 7:30pm, May 1-3. 3rd Zone of 798 Chuangyi Guangchang (Creative Square), 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6417-7845.
Ode to Norwegian romance
The China Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a special concert to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Edvard Hagerup. The great Norwegian composer, conductor and pianist was famed for his strong characteristics of national musical language and romantic presentation. 10-40 yuan. 7pm, May 3. Peking University Concert Hall, Haidian District. 6275-2279.
A wizardly show
The China Puppet Artist Group will perform a puppet show, The Wizard of Oz, based on a classical fairy tale. The show introduces modern techniques of sound, lights and stage-setting to add vivid elements to the traditional puppet show. Beside puppets and props, real performers appear on the stage, creating greater audience involvement. 60-450 yuan. 7:30pm, May 2, 3. Beizhan Theater, Xizhimenwai Dajie, Haidian District. 6835-4455. ,
Dance thaws the ice
The Icelandic National Modern Dance Troupe will bring Nordic passion to the capital. Founded in 1973, the troupe boasts a strong cast. Its modern choreography style began in 1996 and it is one of the foremost modern dancing troupes in the world. Choreographer Lra Stefnsdtti explores love, friendship, life and struggle in the fairy storyline of God of the Moon. Happy New Year made its debut in 2006, hailing grace and humanity with strong visual effect against the background of war and violence. 20-120 yuan. 7pm, May 6. Peking University Concert Hall. 6275-2279. ,
Exotic ballet
The Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Troupe will stage La Bayadere. The play tells a tragic love story between a warrior, Solor, and an Indian dancer, Bayadere. 80-880 yuan. 7:30pm, May 3, 4. The Great Theater of China Nationalities, 49 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District. 6602-2530.
A friendly drama
Musical drama, Biscuit Guy, unfolds a fairy tale of love and friendship, adapted from English playwright David Wood's novel in 1956. The fairy tale reminds everyone of the importance of friendship and that we should bring happiness and sunshine to each other. 50-400 yuan. 7:30pm, May 5-7. China Children Theater, 64 Dong'anmen Dajie, Wangfujing. 6521-1425.
Grand song and dance
To usher in the May Day holiday, a grand variety show of singing and dancing will be staged. Top singers including Wei Wei, Cai Guoqing, Cheng Fangyuan will perform, together with those from the Beijing Opera and Dance Drama Company. 80-1,180 yuan. 7:30pm, Apr 29. Great Hall of the People, west of Tian'anmen Square. 6417-7845. ,
Twin love tales
The Northern Kun Opera Theater will stage West Chamber and Peony Pavilion. The former love story is developed through maid and matchmaker Hongniang. The latter tells a love story between ghost and human. 30-40 yuan. 7pm, Apr 27, 28. Peking University Concert Hall. 6275-2279. ,
Ukraine does Swan Lake
The Ukrainian National Opera Ballet will stage Swan Lake in Beijing. Founded in 1932, the troupe enjoys a high reputation around the world and has never stopped challenging itself with innovative choreography. 80-880 yuan. 7:30pm, Apr 30, May 1. Tianqiao Theater, 30 Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District. 8315-6170.
Half-century concerto
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, led by its artistic director and chief conductor Yu Long, will give a concert. The troupe has attended numerous domestic and overseas music festivals. Yu has been active on the international stage and his classic style has been widely recognized. 10-40 yuan. 7pm, Apr 28. Peking University Concert Hall. 6275-2279. ,
Emperor's expression
Puppet play The Emperor's New Clothes will be staged by the China Puppet Art Troupe. 50-240 yuan. 7:30pm, May 1-7. China Puppet Theater, A1 Anhuali, Chaoyang District. 6425-4798.
Exhibitions
Abstraction of mood
Ming Jing's oil painting style has developed from realistic style to behaviorism and deformation with abstract flavor. Light and subdued hint is combined with aesthetic impasto techniques. Western modern art can be traced in the composition while traditional Chinese literati presentation can also be tasted from the mood. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Apr 29. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076.
Martial art
Taiwan artist Chen Chaobao, born in 1948, is famed for his caricatures of current affairs and political topics. He also taps ink and wash with unique angle and presentation. Pleasant colors among landscapes and figure paintings bring harmonious connection between people and nature. Male martial roles in Chinese operas play the main parts in his works, showing strong traditional flavor of art. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Apr 29. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076.
Dynamic charm
Tian Xutong's modern style ink paintings bridge the state of nothingness and reality. Simplicity and pureness are the first impressions of Tian's works. Drawing inspiration from nature, Tian endows the human figure, flowers, birds, insects, fishes, ponds and mountains with dynamic rhythm, echoing the freedom of the world. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until May 4. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076.
Russian realism
Gu Zong's realistic oil paintings combine the Chinese ideology and Russian art style. A graduate of the Repin Fine Arts Institute, Gu taps the field of figure and landscapes, with attempts at different color schemes. His figure works show his aesthetic viewpoint, the Russian landscape and Tibetan area present majestic flavor, and he depicts South China's small towns with mild touches. Free. 9am-5pm. Beijing Russian Art Gallery, inside Sanyu Hotel, 2 Changpocun, Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. 6776-8593.
Beautiful soldiers
Liu Chunhai's new series depicts the beauty of young women PLA soldiers. Wearing green uniform, they convey their vitality and the zeal of youth. Born in 1966, Liu studied print at the art college of the Harbin Normal University. Like many artists of his generation, he has been influenced by the political theme of his early years. Having transferred into oil on canvas, his works enter a domain of popular culture. Free. 10am-7pm, until Apr 27. Yan Club, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 8457-3506.
Weight of Reality
This exhibition starts as a research process to sample the variety of approaches with which individual artists negotiate with reality. Wang Jianwei's earliest conceptual works meticulously carry out experiments, with the manuscripts and images simulating the process. Li Yu and Liu Bo collaborated for a year on a photo-shooting series, 13 Months in the Year of the Dog. Wu Xiaojun's neon-light installations, involving texts and words, comment on political and social events. Free. 10am-6pm, until Apr 28. Marella Gallery,
Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6433-4055.
Ceramics a shoe-in
Zhang Ge's ceramic works are based on four icons: the shoe, the lock, the plate, and the hand. He paints on porcelain with fine-brushworks of beauties, landscapes, flowers and birds on the surface. He creatively combines the ceramic art with traditional paintings and juxtaposes the daily icons into the art. 15 yuan. 9am-7pm, until Apr 29. Artist Village Gallery, 1 North of Rencun, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District. 6959-8343. ,
SE-Asian scene
The Southeast Asian contemporary art exhibition introduces 10 artists from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. Thai young artist Natee Utarit is skillful in controlling different kinds of material; Malaysian Eric Chan sets on lilies; Singaporean sculptor David Chan gets inspiration from animals and fairy tales; and Indonesian Jayson Oliveria's small-sized oil paintings are influenced by Western classics. Free. 10am-5pm, until Apr 29. Soka Art Center, B-101 Tianhai Business Plaza, 107 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District. 8401-2377.
Reflection of life
The contemporary oil painting exhibition features more than 30 works of young Chinese painter Pang Yongjie. The paintings reflect Pang's perceptions of the reality, lives and social environment. Simple composition, bright hint, abstract images constitute the daily scene that everyone might confront. Free. 9:30am-6pm, until Apr 30. Qin Gallery, 1-1E Huawei Li, north of Beijing Curio City, Chaoyang District. 8779-0461.
Lyrical landscapes
Liu Keming absorbs the concepts of modern art, based on the traditional Chinese painting language. He is skillful on the perfection of lines and colors. Landscapes are lyrical with intertwined brush-strokes and emphasis on hint design. Portraits are mainly of beauties. The abstract works taps deformed figures and objects. Graduated from the Chinese painting department of Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1985, Liu promotes the traditional art into his oil works. Free. 10am-6pm, Apr 30. Wan Fung Art Gallery, 136 Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6523-3320.
Tears of laughter
Yin Jun's oil paintings show of crying faces employ humorous painting language and exaggerated presentation. Vivid color further adds the comic effect to the scene. Free. 8:30am-6pm, until May 4. Beijing Central Art Gallery & Cultural Venue, 2 Riverville Square, 1 District One, Tianzhu, Shunyi District. 6450-8483.
Avant-garde angle
Spanish artist Alicia Framis' solo exhibition displays her two series of works, Anti-dog and Secret Strikes. Black woman model, people on the street wearing shawls, and a wedding accompanied with political slogans can all be found in her various themed works. Born in 1967, Framis has never stopped tapping new angles to present her avant-garde view. Free. 11am-5pm, until May 6. Pyo Gallery Beijing, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District. 5202-3814.,
Unrestrained youth
A group of young artists born in the 1980s gather together with their simple and unconstrained styles. Liu Wei, Zeng Yang, Zhang Yingchun and the other six shows their mood and spirit through dynamic composition and vivid colors. Free. 10am-4pm, until Apr 28. NY Arts Beijing Space, 318 Art Garden, Hegezhuang, Chaoyang District. ,
Original oils
Original Gallery, formed by Intech Wellness Center, displays works by Chinese senior artists, including Liu Xiao and Song Xueyang. May 2-19, inside Moon River Private Club, 1 Yuelianghe, Hebin Lu, TongZhou District. 8952-8955.
(China Daily 04/25/2007 page12)
