Listings: Beijing

STAGE

The Hungarian National ExperiDance is coming to Beijing. Under the direction of Sndor Romn, their

performance blends elements of traditional, modern and classical dancing. Their latest performance is titled One Thousand and One Years, Musketeers, Revenge, Steel and Best of ExperiDance.

7 pm, April 11

Peking University Concert Hall, Peking University, Haidian District

6275-2279, 6275-9637

James Blunt scored several hits from his album, Back To Bedlam. Born in 1977 in England, Blunt has seen several twists and turns in his music career.

8 pm, April 18

Star Live Concert Hall, third floor of Tango, 79 Heping Xijie, Dongcheng District

6425-5166

The China Central National Song and Dance Ensemble will stage a gala performance called Harmonious China. With a grand cast of more than 300, the performance covers several styles of ethnic dancing.

7:30 pm, April 19

Beizhan Theater, Xizhimenwai Dajie, Haidian District

6835-4455

The Chinese Acrobatics Group, established in 1950, has toured more than 80 countries, won numerous international awards and has helped foster 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.

7:30 pm, daily

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

6416-9893

CONCERTS

The on-going China Philharmonic Orchestra's 2007-08 Musical Festival will perform Beethoven's Concerto for violin, violoncello and piano in C Major, Op 56 and Bela Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. It features violinist Chai Liang, cellist Sun Xiaoqi and pianist Shi Jiajia.

7:30 pm, April 12

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

6559-8285

Organized by the Italian Embassy, the Italian Jazz Weekend will open at the 600-year-old Imperial

Granary with four of Italy's finest jazz acts: 3quietmen, Manomanouche & Voice, Q, and Ivan Valentini "Slanting" quintet.

7:30 pm, April 10

Imperial Granary (Nanxincang, behind New Poly Plaza)

6409-6477, 6409-6499

Under the baton of Yu Long, the China Philharmonic Orchestra will entertain audiences with Chinese folk music and Gustav Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. Mezzo-soprano: Zheng Cao.

7:30 pm, April 6

Poly Theater, Dongsi Shitiao, Chaoyang District

6506-5345, 6506-5343

The 2008 Beijing International Women Musicians Congress will kick off at the National Center for the Performing Arts. Twelve concerts will be held, featuring 118 works. Styles include symphony, orchestral music, wind music, string music, chamber music, folk music and electronic music.

7:30 pm, April 18

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

5883-6800

Exhibitions

Artist couple Ji Qingyuan and Lu Ping produce ink figure works. Ji has painted ancient celebrities including poet Li Bai, literati Cao Xueqin and scientist Zhang Heng. Lu is skillful at depicting images of women. Young girls, picking lotus flowers or playing traditional instruments, seem elegant and joyous.

9 am-5 pm, until April 5

National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

6401-7076

Guo Runwen's oil paintings show a classical aesthetic approach and realistic style. On display are 60 selected works.

9 am-5 pm, until April 5

National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

6401-7076

Four prestigious oil painters, Zhang Qinruo, Wen Lipeng, Ma Changli and Zhang Chongqing will present their recent works. Zhang Qinruo captures the change of seasons by contrasting of colors. Wen uses various tones to bring forth the exuberant trees and forest. Ma takes a bird's eye view of the terrace and loess plateau. Zhang Chongqing's focus is the seascape and the busy river banks.

9 am-5 pm, until April 10

National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

6401-7076

One World, One Home, the third exhibition in the Art Works from the Foreign Embassies series (pictured

right), will run from April 10 at the Capital Museum. More than 300 pieces including paintings, sculptures and handicrafts, have been gathered from more than 60 embassies in China to display the strong features of their respective nations. Among the works are Angolan bronze sculptures, Austrian paintings, Iran silverwares, Russian oil works, Turkish embroidery and ceramics from Poland. Some of the pieces on display were produced by master artists and are of great value. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and organized by China International Exhibition Agency, the exhibition serves as an opportunity for foreign missions to introduce their countries through art and culture.

9 am-5 pm, April 10-23

Capital Museum, 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District

6337-0491

Oil paintings of landscapes and still life by Hu Tianxiao show a mix of realistic and abstract techniques. The perspective is filled with heavy strokes and blocks of color, giving a feeling of strength and freshness.

10 am-5 pm, until April 4

Hongzilan Gallery, 70 Guangyintang, A2 Wangsiying, Chaoyang District

6720-1335

David Diao's latest solo show opens a window to past memories and provides a nostalgic view of his hometown Chengdu. The names of the works - Gingko, Plot Plan, Return to Sender, Timeline, and To Construct, reflect the changes in his thinking.

2-5 pm, until April 5

Courtyard Annex, 155 Caochangdi Village, Nangao Lu, Chaoyang District

6526-8882

Cang Xin draws inspiration from the primitive religions of nomadic ethnic groups. The exhibits include photographs, sketches and sculpture.

10 am-5 pm, until April 6

Gallery Mook, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8459-9550

Zhang Yongzheng's solo exhibition, Mysterious Rhythm, delves into the mysterious origins of life. Zhang uses symbols and totems to express his understanding of earth nature, time and space, as well as humans and the cosmos.

10 am-6 pm, until April 6

New Age Gallery, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8459-9282

Liberation - Wen Pulin Archive of Chinese Avant-Garde Art of the 1980s is a retrospective of major art events and brings together video programs, photographs, documents and audio works.

10 am-5 pm, until April 6

Soka Art Center, B-103 Sky&Sea Business Plaza, 107 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District

8401-5810

Three artists Jin Feng, Liang Wei and Ma Yongfeng jointly host this exhibition named Disorientation II. The works of Jin explore the individualism of idolization, while those of Liang are based on industrial society. The exhibits of Ma embrace elements of photography and media technology.

11 am-18 pm, until April 6

Fun Art Space, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

8459-9257

Much of Qiu Xiaofei's inspiration comes from childhood memories - the toys he played with, the old gas canisters used in households in the 1980s, and the thermos bottles which have been replaced by the water dispenser.

12 am- 6 pm, until April 6

Boers-Li Gallery, A8, Caochangdi Village, Airport Sideway, Chaoyang District

6432-2620

Wang Jiazeng unifies the figures in his works. Without any identity, the figures are symbols of a certain time period.

10 am-6:30 pm, until April 6

Highland Gallery, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

6437-7177

Flying White is the fourth solo exhibition for artist Wu Yang, who comments on China's fast developing urban landscapes with striking black-and-white abstract images on photographic paper. The artist calls her series Public Space, highlighting the growing importance of public spaces on our everyday lives.

Critics say Wu's artistic language is contemporary but has the ambience of Chinese ink paintings. Respected art critic Fang Zhenning curates the exhibition.

10 am-5 pm, until April 15

FANGART, Room 510, Block 16, Houxiandai-cheng, 16 Baiziwanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

87765159

The 2008 Beijing International Baking, Beverage, Food Processing and Package Expo is now on.

9 am-4 pm, until April 5

China International Exhibition Center, 6 Beisanhuan Donglu, Chaoyang Distirct

8460-0000

Occupying an exhibition area of 5,500 sqm, the 2008 Expat Service Expo will start this weekend.

9 am-4 pm, April 5-6

China World Trade Center, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District

6505-6506

Sun Jiabo, born in 1939, is senior professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. His latest wooden

sculptures on show, entitled Segmental Diaries, have been created in his spare time. Keeping to the natural veins and shapes of the wood, Sun endows them with vitality and life.

9 am-5 pm, until April 5

National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

6401-7076

(China Daily 04/04/2008 page20)