Listings: Beijing

STAGE

Beijing Music Radio will hold a special concert. Popular, folk and bel canto singers will be accompanied by the symphony orchestra of the China National Chinese Opera and Dance Drama Company. Older and young stars - including Wang Kun, Wei Wei and Man Wenjun - will team up for a night of treats.

7:30 pm, Jan 29

Great Hall of the People, west of Tian'anmen Square

6417-7845, 6608-1188

Italian metal band Skylark and Finish group Nightwish will stage shows in Beijing. Led by Eddy Antonini, Skylark combines symphonic power, metal speed and orchestral music. Nightwish, founded in 1996, is famous for albums such as Angels Fall First, Oceanborn and Wishmaster.

7:30 pm, Jan 21

Haidian Exhibition Hall, 2 Xinjian Gongmen Lu, Haidian District

6285-0559

Despite his producer Sergey Pudovkin saying after a Beijing show in June that he wouldn't be back for four years, Russian crooner Vitas (pictured) has returned.

At last year's show it's fair to say the audience was captivated by Vitas' splendid voice, but some doubted whether he really sang on stage or was just lip-synching.

Pudovkin strongly denies this and instead suggests Vitas is breaking down stereotypes. The performer becomes an actor, creating different roles. Talented mime artists also take part in the performance.

"We make people treat what is happening on the stage quite differently. It is impossible to describe it, you need to see it with your own eyes," Pudovkin says.

Vitas, who is nearly 27, was born Vitalii Vladasovich Grachov. The Latvian-born pop singer, composer and actor is primarily influenced by classical opera and techno music.

His voice is unique. Its wide range enables him to hit practically any note.

In his new song Good bye, for instance, Vitas adopts a low bass. Operas No. 1 & 2, however, are high-note spectaculars. Internet Nastroyenie is electropop, while songs like Unlucky suggest folk influences.

Vitas' 2005 video Opera 2 is an Internet favorite and is one of the reasons why he is so popular worldwide. He has CD sales of over 10 million.

7:30 pm, Jan 24

Capital Gymnasium, 54, Baishiqiao Lu, Xicheng District

6406-8888,

4008183333

Rock singer Wang Feng's solo concert will cover his work as a musical poet. From his early songs, such as Good Night Beijing and Birdies to his recent In Full Bloom of Life, Wang explores his themes of romance, dedication and idealism.

7:30 pm, Jan 19

Worker's Gymnasium, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District

6501-6655

The Chinese Acrobatics Group, established in 1950, has toured more than 80 countries, won numerous international awards and made great contributions to friendships between China and other nations. Its performance includes traditional acrobatics, a circus show, magic, old Beijing folk plays and more. The show blends music, dance, local opera and martial arts into a festival of acrobatics.

7:30 pm, daily

Tiandi Theater, Dongsi Shitiao, 100 m north of Poly Theater, Chaoyang District

6416-9893

CONCERTS

The Rome-based Chinese conductor Lu Jia will become the first guest conductor to lead the China Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008. He will conduct a concert Friday evening at the Forbidden City Concert Hall. The program includes Richard Strauss' Don Juan and Robert Schumann's Second Symphony in C major. Chinese violinist Xue Wei will play Max Bruch's violin concerto Scottish Fantasy. The Walter Scott-inspired piece exemplifies the composer's fascination with folk music.

7:30 pm, Jan 18

Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square

8838-4165

China Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra continues its season of concerts, covering Richard Strauss' Don Juan Op 20, Max Bruch's Scotland Fantasia Op 46 and Robert Schumann's Symphony No 2 Op 61 in C major.

7:30 pm, Jan 18

Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square

6559-8285

The Ju Percussion Group from Taiwan stages more than 100 performances annually around the world. Founded in 1986 when percussion was somewhat alien in Taiwan, the group now provides mass entertainment, with lively melodies and a joyous style.

7:30 pm, until Jan 23, 24

National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square

5883-6800

Exhibitions

The World Art Museum will hold a series of activities for the approaching winter vacation in which students will make a three-day-visit to the long-term exhibition called The Great Civilization. There are over 328 works, including sculptures, murals, bronze ware, pottery pieces and jewelery, from around 3,000 BC to the 18th century.

9 am-5 pm, Jan 29-31

Beijing World Art Museum, China Millennium Monument, A9 Fuxinglu, Haidian District

6851-3322

The visual perspectives of Jiang Guandong's abstract paintings have been transformed from primitive pureness to unsophisticated quietness. Ancient Chinese characters and logical formulas form the basic painting elements.

9 am-4 pm, Jan 12-20

Today International Gallery, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District

5876-9392

Through different art forms, including installations, sculpture and video works, the 10 participating artists address the subject of Utopia. Utopia is about mind, spirit, dream, image, imagination and desire, present and future. For the participants, the border of utopia is defined and satirized within the material domain.

9 am-4 pm, until Jan 24

Today Art Museum, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District

5876-9690

Young French photographer Ambroise Tezenas unveils his cityscapes. The nostalgic flavor and dreamlike atmosphere present a kind of decorative appearance, like theatrical scenery.

10 am-5 pm, until Jan 19

Paris Beijing Photo Gallery, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8459-9263

Zhang Zhicheng's oil painting series Face comprises mono-colored faces. Different from his still-life works, these faces are endowed with life and emotion. Returning to the simple and fundamental meaning of colors, Zhang varies the work by using different tones and hints of color.

10 am-5 pm, until Jan 20

Chen Ling Hui Contemporary Space, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

6435-9665

Italian sculptor Matteo Lo Greco's series of works, Joy of Life, combine classic models and modern presentation. He creates pure emotional figures with lively gestures.

10 am-5 pm, until Jan 20

BB Gallery, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District

6432-2619

Oil painter Cui Guotai has a personal approach to art, creating objects like a factory plant.

11 am-6 pm, until Jan 20

White Space, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8456-2054

Two exhibitions are ongoing at the Arario Gallery, with one featuring the installation works of South Korean artist Lee Yong-baek and the other, entitled Refresh, showing the works of several Chinese young artists.

10 am-6 pm, until Jan 20

Arario Beijing, Jiuchang Art Complex, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District

5202-3800

10 artists, including Gao Feng, Ku Xueming and Li Mingzhu, are holding a seasonal exhibition of oil on canvas pictures.

10 am-5 pm, until Jan 20

Gallery Mook, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8459-9550

Sleepwalker, Lu Liang's new series has more than 20 oil paintings. Using traditional approaches and chiaroscuro effects, Lu creates figures and landscapes with super-realistic content. Influenced by such Western masters as Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Latour, his works are concerned with such topics as the environment, culture and tradition.

10: 30 am-18: 30 pm, until Jan 20

Creek Art Beijing, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8459-9217

An extremely abstract approach and a pluralistic color scheme imbue energy and passion to Hai Tao's oil paintings.

10 am-5 pm, until Jan 20

Art 8 Space, 8 Guanyintang, Wangsiying, Chaoyang District

6720-1945

Over 60 sets of wooden furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties will be shown. Also on show are photos from the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, featuring furnishings from European artists inspired by ancient Chinese furniture.

9 am-5 pm, until Jan 21

Beijing World Art Museum, China Millennium Monument, A9 Fuxing Lu

6851-3322

(China Daily 01/18/2008 page20)