Seven Days

FEB 27 / HONG KONG

Zemlinsky's 140th birthday feted

India meets Vienna in Zemlinksy's Lyric Symphony, a collection of seven songs for soprano, baritone and orchestra based on the poems of the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. They tell of love and parting, and the exotic poetry, with its mystical and spiritual allusions, inspired this otherwise little-known Viennese composer to some of his most elevated music.

8 pm. HK$ 120-380. Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. 852-2734-2009

FEB 28 / Shanghai

Mu Guiying Takes Command

This classic Peking Opera tells about a legendary woman marshal fighting against invaders. The production will be presented by the Chinese Opera School attached to Shanghai Drama Academy. Li Peihong will take the leading role of Mu Guiying. This is one of the series of Peking Opera performances staged at Shanghai Grand Theater in February.

7:15 pm. 50-580 yuan. Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue. 021-6386-8686

MARCH 1 / BEIJING

Photography exhibition: Black

Dr Werner Schuster is not a professional photographer but a medical doctor, specializing in radiology, with clinics in Vienna, Austria. He fell in love with photography at the age of 6.

As he runs his practice, he uses his professional insight into radiology to create these wondrous works.

Three Shadows Photography Art Center, Caochangdi, Chaoyang district. 010-6431-9063

MARCH 2 / BEIJING

Rosy Clouds Beyond the Horizon

With the Long March as the background, the poetic dance drama Rosy Clouds Beyond the Horizon focuses on female soldiers on the Long March. With female nurse Yun's growth process, inner feelings and unique perspective as the dramatic arc, the play creates a profound and delicate characterization of the strong will and sacrifice of female Red Army soldiers.

7:30 pm. 80-380 yuan. National Center for the Performing Arts, Xicheng district. 010-6655-0000.

March 3 / Shanghai

Memories of Matsuko

A play adapted from the novel of the same title by Japanese writer Muneki Yamada will be staged in Chinese. It tells the sad and yet hilarious life story of Matsuko, a kind-hearted woman constantly in trouble - from her neglected childhood, to relationships with abusive men, to her disappointed search for true love.

7:15 pm, until March 22. 100-280 yuan. Shanghai Dramatic Art Center, 288 Anfu Road. 021-6473-0123

MARCH 4 / BEIJING

Ballet: Carmen and L'Arlesienne

As one of China's most promising symphony orchestras, the China Philharmonic Orchestra begins its new performance season with a rich selection of works, including accompanying the classic acts from Carmen and L'Arlesienne performed with a top ballet troupe.

7:30 pm. 50-680 yuan. Poly Theater, Dongsishitiao, Chaoyang district. 400-610-3721

March 5 / Shanghai

Daniel Lee's Circus

Chinese-American artist Daniel Lee will present his new digital photo art series titled Circus. Man and animals have shared this planet for so long, yet there is always the clear boundary. Only in the circus do man and animals rely on each other. On the stage, the actors try their best to show the animal instincts, while the animals imitate the behaviors of human beings.

5 pm, until April 4. Tangram Art Center, 2F, Building 17, 50 Moganshan Road. 021-6299-9868

(China Daily 02/27/2011 page15)