Symphony

Under the baton of senior conductor Huang Xiaotong, China Philharmonic Orchestra is to present a concert.

Seventy-year-old Huang has been teaching for over three decades in Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Over 80 conductors have graduated under his tutoring, among them Tang Muhai, Yu Long, Chen Xieyang and other top conductors in China.

Huang not only teaches but also conducts. This is the first time he has linked up with musicians from the China Philharmonic Orchestra.

Programme: Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op 21 by Mendelssohn, Symphony No 41 in C major, K 551, Jupiter by Mozart, and Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op 98 by Brahms.

Tickets: 50-380 yuan (US$6-46)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 5

Location: Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park, to the north of Tian'anmen Square

Tel: 6559-8285

中山音乐堂，中山公园内

German piece

China National Symphony Orchestra and the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus are to introduce German Requiem by Brahms. Li Xincao will conduct. Zhou Zhen and Zhang Liping will solo.

Tickets: 30-380 yuan (US$4-46)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 6

Location: China National Library Concert Hall, Baishiqiaolu

Tel: 8854-5501, 8854-5731

国图音乐厅，白石桥路39号

Messiah

The International Festival Chorus and Orchestra is to feature Messiah by Handel, lead by conductor Andrew Nethsingha.

Nethsingha is artistic director of Gloucester Three Choirs Festival in England.

Festival orchestra leader is Jin Haiyin. The main cast is soprano Cintia De Los Santos, alto Zhang Yuan, tenor Li Bing and baritone Wu Chunkan.

Tickets: 60-380 yuan (US$7-46)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 6

Location: Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park

Tel: 6559-8285

中山音乐堂，中山公园内

Brazilian dazzlers

The National Song and Dance Ensemble of Brazil is to visit China. The people who live by the Amazon River illustrate their open, natural characters through their dances. These include aboriginal sacrificial dances and fishermen's dances as well as Arabian belly dances, flamenco, swing, and even Chinese-style Kungfu dances.

Tickets: 120-580 yuan (US$14-70)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 5-6

Location: Beizhan Theatre, Xizhimenwai

Tel: 6835-4455

北展剧场，西直门外大街

Oratorio

Hebei Symphony Orchestra will come to Beijing to present Messiah, the most popular oratorio by Handel.

Su Wenxing will take the baton.

Tickets: 80-280 yuan (US$10-34)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 7

Location: China National Library Concert Hall, Baishiqiaolu

Tel: 8854-5501, 8854-5731

国图音乐厅，白石桥路39号

This Dawn Here Is Quiet

The drama tries to criticize modern Chinese artists?lack of inspiration and tendency to try and gain fame through elaborating on revolutionary themes based on stories from the former Soviet Union. With much exaggeration by the director, the drama is filled with a magical surrealism.

Ticket: 100 yuan (US$12)

Time/date: 7:15 pm, until December 8

Location: Small Theatre of Beijing People's Art Theatre, Wangfujing Street

Tel: 6525-0123

人艺小剧场，王府井大街22号

Piano solo

Pianist Du Taihang will perform a recital, featuring works by Chopin and others.

Programme: 3 nocturnes, scherzo, and ballad pieces by Chopin, and more.

Tickets: 20-260 yuan

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 13

Location: China National Library Concert Hall, Baishiqiaolu

Tel: 8854-5501, 8854-5731

国图音乐厅，白石桥路39号

Ethnic tunes

Musician Gong Qisen from Yunnan Province is to highlight ethnic music works by playing special wind instruments invented by people living in that region.

Tickets: 60-200 yuan (US$7-24)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 15, 16

Location: China National Library Concert Hall, Baishiqiaolu

Tel: 8854-5501, 8854-5731

国图音乐厅，白石桥路39号

Light music

Musicians with the China Light Music Orchestra are to stage a so-called Dream Melodies concert, presenting some of the world's light music classics.

Programme: Jingle Bells, Memory, Love Story, Going Home, Carmen Prelude, as well as Chinese pieces including Butterfly Lovers, Jasmine Flower, Yao Ethnic Dances.

Tickets: 60-680 yuan (US$7-82)

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 25

Location: Century Theatre, Liangmaqiaolu

Tel: 6466-0032, 6466-3311 ext 3161

世纪剧院，亮马桥路40号

Children's classics

Lead by conductor Ni Danxia, Mulan Children's Voice Choir is to stage a vocal concert themed on Christmas celebration.

Programme: Merry Christmas to You, Jingle Bells, Christmas Night and Christmas Tree.

Tickets: 10-100 yuan (US$1-12)

Time/date: 2 pm, December 23

Location: Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park

Tel: 6559-8285

中山音乐堂，中山公园内

Musical

With Nicholas Smith conducting, Beijing Baroque Chamber Chorus is to sing Christmas blessings along with excerpts from musicals including Hallelujah, Holy Night, Jingle Bells, The Phantom of the Opera, Casablanca and more.

Time/date: 7:30 pm, December 21

Tickets: 50-380 yuan (US$6-46)

Location: Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park

Tel: 6559-8285

中山音乐堂，中山公园内

Cinema

Warriors of Heaven and Earth

(Tian Di Ying Xiong) (2003)

Director: He Ping

Starring: Jiang Wen, Zhao Wei, Nakai Kiichi, Wang Xueqi

117 minutes

Lieutenant Li is an accomplished warrior. He revolted against his Tang superiors when they ordered him and his troops to slaughter women and children.

Lai Xi is a Japanese swordsman who grew up in the Tang courts. He longs to return to his homeland, but must hunt down the rebel Lieutenant Li to gain the emperor's approval. The two intersect on the Silk Road, where a caravan carrying a Buddhist monk and a precious relic is guarded and attacked from every side.

It is China's official entry for best foreign film in the 2004 Academy Awards.

Ticket: 50 yuan (US$6), 30 yuan (US$4) with a student's card.

Time/date: 8 pm, December 5, 6

Location: Cherry Lane Movies, Gate 29, Anjialou Street, near the 21st Century Theatre

For more info: www.cherrylanemovies.com.cn

樱花巷电影，安家楼路，世纪剧院东北

Dust to Dust

Directed by Juan Carlos de Llaca (2000)

Spanish version.

Rodri and Roco are two young cousins from Mexico City who are completely different from each other, yet are linked by their identical love for their grandfather. An endearing comedy of growth during the trip by this young cousins who decide to live for the first time, accompanied by their grandfather's ashes.

Ticket: Free

Time/date: 7:15 pm, December 10

Location: in the Embassy of Mexico, 5 Sanlitun Dongwujie

Tel: 6532-2244

墨西哥大使馆文化处，三里屯东五街5号

Da zero a dieci

{(From Zero to Ten)} (1998)

Written and directed by: Luciano Ligabue

Starring: Massimo Bellinzoni, Elisabetta Cavallotti, Pierfrancesco Favino, Barbara Lerici

Comedy/Drama, 99 min.

Italian with English subtitles

Eight friends leave their everyday lives behind for three crazy days to take up where they left off 20 years ago. A weekend of games, confessions, arguments, memories and emotions. Where do their lives rate from zero to ten?

The film was a huge box office hit in Italy.

Ticket: Free

Time/date: 7 pm, December 11

Location: in the Culture Office of Italian Embassy, 2 Dongerjie, Sanlitun

Tel: 6532-5015

意大利大使馆文化处，三里屯东二街2号