Best bets
National Theater of China Taking Leave
Date: Jan 7-10-7:30 pm
Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts
Price: 100-480 yuan
The director Wang Xiaoying came up with an idea to rehearse and stage this drama after watching it 17 years ago. In the Chinese version of Taking Leave, the protagonist is a senior actor of Shakespeare dramas for his lifetime, instead of a scholar in the American version. Wang Ying noted that the so-called taking leave is a process of the sober and rational ego being away gradually from oneself. The story portrays a process of this old actor deteriorating from the brim of unconsciousness to complete unconsciousness. In the adapted version, the old actor is best at playing King Lear, which implies the coincidence of his life and three daughters with story lines of the drama. The director deliberately emphasizes the attentions paid to the life of Alzheimer patients, but also more importantly enables viewers to feel sincerely the delicate, complex ties of a family and feel touched by the kinship.
Maria Pages Company I, Carmen
Date: Jan 16-12 - 7:30 pm
Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts
Price: 160-880 yuan
By naming its show I, Carmen, Maria Pages attempted to destroy the myth about Carmen as a femme fatale. The image of the beautiful, sensual, smart and seductive deceptress was created by men. In her show Maria Pages tells the story of real Carmen - her feelings and sensibilities.
Dance of the World in Shanghai
Date: Jan 15-16 - 7:30 pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater
Price: 80-1,156 yuan
The fabulous dancing show is created by the dancing masters. This show which is themed as the sublimation of love, based on palace dance, and combined with new dance elements presents the unique charm of dances from different places of the world: Romantic Waltz, Passionate Tango, Enthusiastic Flamingo, and dazzling Cancan. Artists put the power, desire, and sacred faith to every movement. In this show, audience will go through time and geographical boundary, to enjoy the versatile and luxury beauty from the world.
National Ballet of China The Chinese New Year
Date: Jan 9-10 - 7:30 pm
Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts
Price: 100-600 yuan
The Chinese New Year is coming soon. People are bustling about purchasing goods for the New Year at the temple fair. Adults greet each other in traditional ways, while children are enjoying themselves in the festive atmosphere. Tuantuan and his cousin Yuanyuan are playing with their little friends. Tuantuan has even bought a mask of Nian, a monster in the fairy tales. The grandfather of Tuantuan and Yuanyuan tells the origin of the festival. 12 children hold 12 masks of animal signs, happily waiting for the eve of Chinese New Year in drifting snow. At the eve of Chinese New Year, a foreign friend comes to the grandfather's home to celebrate the Spring Festival with the family.
National Theater of China The Story in the Office
Date: Jan 16-17 - 7:30 pm
Venue: National Theater for the Performing Arts
Price: 100-500 yuan
Shot in 1977, the Soviet comedy film The Story in the Office was directed by famous director Eldar Ryazanov, which deserves the title of classic masterpiece of the twentieth century. It represents the memories of the times for generations of Chinese people. In order to accurately grasp the original Russian flavor, the Russian director, choreographer and costume designer are invited to collaborate with Feng Xianzhen, Han Tongsheng and other outstanding Chinese performers to achieve a Chinese stage play version. The unique cold humor and classic Soviet music of original film will be presented on the stage again, and impress the Chinese audience with romance love under exquisite combination of the Chinese and Russian cultures.
Contact: 010-6655-0000
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Riccardo Muti in Beijing
Date: Jan 25-26 - 7:30 pm
Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts
Price: 280-1,680 yuan
Now celebrating its 125th season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the world's leading orchestras. In September 2010, renowned Italian conductor Riccardo Muti became its 10th music director. His vision for the Orchestra - to deepen its engagement with the Chicago community, to nurture its legacy while supporting a new generation of musicians, and to collaborate with visionary artists-signals a new era for the institution. The program includes Symphony No 5 by Beethoven and Symphony No 1 by Mahler on Jan 25, and Classical Symphony by Prokofiev, Concert Music for Strings and Brass by Hindemith, and Symphony No 4 by Tchaikovsky.
(China Daily 01/09/2016 page20)
