Performance

Russian miracle

Vitas Vladasovich Grachyov - dubbed the miracle of Russian song - brings his charming smile and beautiful voice to China, in his debut show in Beijing on June 15. Vitas is a creative artist with a unique approach to songwriting, and he hits high octaves and difficult notes, in a style somewhat unusual for a pop singer. 480-1,680 yuan. 7:30pm, Jun 15. Great Hall of the People, west of Tian'anmen Square.137-0126-6811. 人民大会堂, 天安门广场西

Lives of the common people

The Beijing People's Art Theater is staging the classic play, Rickshaw Boy (1936), a masterpiece of the Chinese writer Lao She, to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Chinese drama. One of Lao She's beloved works, it tells a tragic story of common people, and gives a panoramic description of Beijing culture, a major feature of his literature.

Founded in 1952, the theater has witnessed the development of Chinese drama, boasting generations of top performers on China's drama stage, and a wide repertoire. 40-500 yuan. 7:30pm, until Jun 15. Capital Theater, 22 Wangfujing Dajie.6524-9847. 首都剧场, 王府井大街22号

Humanity under siege

In an unnamed city, the residents all succumb to blindness. As the epidemic spreads, victims are quarantined in an abandoned mental asylum, heavily guarded by soldiers. The National Theater Company of China will stage The Blind City, an adaptation from Noble Prize winner in literature in 1998, Jose Saramago's novel, Blindness. Directed by Wang Xiaoying, the drama made its debut at Peking University in May.

80-380 yuan. 7:30 pm, Jun 6-17. Opera House of People's Liberation Army, 60 Deshengmennei Dajie, Jishuitan, Haidian District. 6406-9999. 解放军歌剧院,德胜门内大街60号积水潭地铁南

Hope of Chinese music

The China National Symphony Orchestra will perform works by teachers and students from the composition department of the Conservatory of Chinese Music. Tan Lihua will take the baton.

Founded in 1964, the conservatory has been devoted to the education and study of the traditional Chinese music, being hailed as "the cradle of traditional Chinese musicians". 50-580 yuan. 7:30, Jun 2. Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District.6605-7006. 北京音乐厅, 西城区北新华街

Music season

Jakarta-born Jahja Ling will conduct the China Philharmonic Orchestra to present Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, and Sibelius' Symphony No 2 in D Major. Japanese violinist Kyoko Takezawa will perform.

Ling began to play the piano at age 4, and completed a master's degree at the Juilliard School. He founded the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra in 1981, and has been the music director of the San Diego Symphony since 2004.

Takezawa began her violin studies at age 3 and graduated from the Juilliard School. Her interpretive insight and virtuosity are matched by a riveting platform manner. 50-680 yuan. 7:30 pm, Jun 10. Poly Theater, Dongsi Shitiao.6506-5345. 保利剧院,东四十条

Wind from grassland

A concert, titled Tribute to the Grassland, featuring Mongolian folk music will hit the stage. Versatile artists from Inner Mongolia will perform the unique khoomei, or throat singing, unaccompanied choir and many other songs that extol the grassland. People have an opportunity to appreciate the charm of distinctive Mongolian instruments. The chorus will also perform two French songs, which won them wide acclaim and honors at international choir festivals. 100-500 yuan. 7:30 pm, Jun 16. Beizhan Theater, Xizhimenwai Dajie, Haidian District.6835-4455. 北展剧场, 海淀区西直门外大街

Peking Opera

Li Peihong, a famous Peking Opera actress of the Cheng School, will take the lead in three performances in Peking University, the first stop of a national tour. Dream of a Bride shows how a new bride desperately misses her husband, who was killed in the war. Commit Suicide by Hitting the Stone Tablet extols the heroism and patriotism of General Yang in Song Dynasty. The Lucky Purse tells the reunion of two women, who meet on the way to their husbands' home on their wedding day. 60-280 yuan. 7 pm, Jun 15,16. Peking University Hall, Haidian Strict.6275-2279. 北大百年讲堂,北京大学内

Voice of heaven

Hailed as one of the seven great children's choruses of the world, the Children and Girls Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra will give two concerts, featuring popular children's songs and adapted vocal works of the classic orchestral music. Yang Hongnian, the chorus?founder and famous music educator, will conduct. 2pm, 7:30 pm, Jun 2. Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhongshan Park, northwest of Tian'anmen Square.6559-8285. 中山音乐堂, 中山公园内

Season highlight

The China Philharmonic Orchestra will present Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, and Sibelius' Symphony No 2 in D major. Klaus Weise will conduct. 280-880 yuan. 3:30pm, 7:30pm, Jun 3. Poly Theater, Dongsi Shitiao.6506-5345. 保利剧院,东四十条

A foursome of refinement

Shanghai Quartet, known for their passionate musicality, impressive technique and multicultural innovations will hold a concert featuring Beethoven's String Quartet No 6 in B-flat Major, Schubert's String Quartet No 14 in d Minor, Death and the Maiden, and some Chinese folk-song works. 10-80 yuan. 7:30 pm, June 8. Peking University Hall, Haidian District.6275-2279. 北大百年讲堂, 北京大学内

Exhibition

Traditional touches

Wang Shaohua's Chinese paintings feature traditional compositions and techniques. Wang's 36 new works show his endless exploration and innovation. Under his brush, the peonies, either disposed in vivid and rich, or elegant and simple tones, are all endowed with the human spirit. The pine, plum, eagle and sparrow, which are the traditional images of Chinese ink paintings, are executed with realistic style in a depth of space. Free. 9am-8pm. Chaoyang Cultural Arts Museum, Xiaozhuang, Chaoyangmenwai.8599-6011. 朝阳文化馆, 朝阳门外小庄

Ink charm

A group of artists including Yang Gang, Li Xiaoke and Xiao Feng will gather to show their contemporary ink paintings. Fang Xiang's hometown landscape features the heavy and saturated colors of a summer afternoon, Lao Jia's horseman series presents unconstrained and vigorous strength, Li Xiaoke's small town and old houses are permeated with cooking smoke and light fog. Free. 10am-7pm, until Jun 8. Creation Gallery, North end of Ritan Lu, Chaoyang District.8561-7570. 可创铭佳艺苑, 日坛路北端

Talent awarded

The winners from The 2007 Martell outstanding art figures prize are currently on display at the National Art Museum of China. The annual event covers the field of oil paintings, installations, sculptures and photographs. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Jun 7. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District.6401-7076. 中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号

Calligraphy on poem

Some 100 pieces of Zhang Biao's calligraphy works are based on the artist's own poems. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Jun 11. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District.6401-7076. 中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号

Britain in China

An exhibition titled Britain Meets the World: 1714-1830 shows the course of development of the United Kingdom from an island nation to a world power in terms of culture, science, and economy from the 18th century to the early 19th century. 8:30am-5pm, until Jun 10. Gallery on the Meridian Gate Tower (Wu Men), Palace Museum, 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng District. 8511-7575. 故宫博物院午门展厅, 东城区景山前街4号

Spiritual mood

South Korean artist Chung Chang-sub's works convey the lifestyle and aesthetic sense of his country. He taps into the spiritual field of oriental art and portrays a world of unconsciousness. The spatial margin and the quality of the pigment constitute a harmonious world of life and nature. Free. 11am-5pm. Pyo Gallery Beijing, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District.5202-3814. 北京表画廊, 朝阳区安外北苑北湖渠酒厂艺术园

Novel mould

Yu Bogong's avant-garde installations present novel enjoyment from mould to implication. Free. 1-6pm, until Jun 6. China Art Archives and Warehouse, Nangao, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District.8456-5152. 艺术文化仓库, 朝阳区草场地南皋

The heroes

Entitled 10 Years Make The Hero, the solo exhibition of Shen Jingdong is a collection of his recent oil paintings, photographs and sculptures. Shen began creating the Hero series in 1997 after serving seven years in the army. Working on oil paintings based on the pictures of great men, he creates a spiritual bearing within the vigor of the images. Later in 2002 he applied this same theme to sculpting. Free. 10:30am-5:30pm, until Jun 6. Imagine Gallery, Feijiacun Donglu, Cuigezhuang, Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District.6438-5747. 想象画廊, 朝阳区来广营东路崔各庄费家村

Inspirational spirit

Guo Renjie's solo exhibition, named Inspirational Sunflowers, depicts the character of the Shandong men and his admiration for their indomitable spirit. The majestic images of sunflowers symbolize the life of hope. Free. 8:30am-6pm, until Jun 8. Beijing Central Art Gallery & Cultural Venue, 2 Riverville Square, 1 District One, Tianzhu, Shunyi District.6450-8483. 硕华画社, 顺义天竺丽来花园一区1号, 温榆广场2号

Two arts in common

Scenes from the olden days of China and France can be seen in this exhibition. The collection contains 140 Chinese New Year Paintings from collector Wang Shucun and Epinal paintings from Henri George showing French society after the 17th century. 9:30am-4:30pm, until Jun 2. Central Academy of Fine Art Museum, 5 Jiaowei Hutong, Dongcheng District.6528-2022. 中央美术学院美术馆,东城区校尉胡同5号

Creative characters

Born in 1952 in France, artist Andre Kneib cherishes a deep love for Chinese literature and characters. His calligraphic works borrow compositional structures from painting. He focuses on brush-line techniques and modeling, which won him recognition as a representative of calligraphy research in the West.

10am-10pm, until Jun 6. Qingyunlou Gallery, 22 Qianhai Dongyan, Xicheng District.6401-9581. 庆云楼, 西城区前海东沿22号

(China Daily 05/30/2007 page12)