Beijing

Red Cliff on stage

The historical legend Red Cliff from the Three Kingdoms (AD220-280) will be brought back to stage in Peking opera. Beyond the melodious arias of Peking opera, it features creative stage design and magnificent visual effects. Glowing scenes include hundreds of thousands of arrows flying across the sky, fires flaring in countless camps and "borrowing the east wind with hundreds of flags".

7:30 pm, Oct 20-22. National Centre for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district. 010-6655-0000

Zhang Daqian's letters

The letters of master artist Zhang Daqian will be exhibited for a glimpse into his life. The show features about 200 pieces of works by Zhang and his friends. His traditional Chinese paintings of flowers, birds, landscapes and portraits are highlights of the show. Two paintings from Zhang's later days will be shown for the first time in China.

9 am-5 pm, Oct 17-Dec 30 except Monday. Capital Museum, 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng district. 010-6339-3339

Akon music concert

The American R&B star Akon will hit the stage in Beijing on his first tour to China. Known for his recordings of songs like Smack That, Ghetto and Mr Lonely, Akon has six Grammy Awards nominations and produced many hits for artists including Lady Gaga and Colby O'Donis. This time, Akon will bring his new single Angel to fans in China.

8 pm, Nov 4. Beijing Mastercard Center (formerly Wukesong Arena), 69 Fuxin Lu, Haidian district. 010-6417-7845

Shanghai

Modern dance

A multimedia play by Dulcinee Langfelder and Compagnie from Canada, Victoria's Secret, revolves around its heroine Victoria, a dementia patient who has lost much of her memory and control of life, but that does not stop her from thinking. The leading actress Langfelder vividly presents the inner world of Victoria and shows her flair for dancing, through her performance of wheelchair tango, wheelchair tap dance and puppet pas de deux.

7:30 pm, Oct 17, 18. Shanghai City Theater, 4889 Dushi Lu. 021-6272-0455

New-style pianist

World-renowned Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, who tours Europe all year long, is a crossover musician who began composing in the late 1980s. Combining his exquisite skills in playing classic piano pieces with a number of popular music elements, he has successfully turned himself into a "new-style pianist" acclaimed for playing popular modern piano works. The piano and small band concert An Intimate Dialogue, that will feature Einaudi and five other musicians, promises to showcase the passion that Einaudi's performances are known for.

7:30 pm, Oct 19. Shanghai Concert Hall, 523, Yan'an Donglu. 021-5386-6666

Jin Yangping oils

The oil paintings by Jin Yangping show urban landscapes, nature and interiors. With his virtuoso use of alternating thin layers and thick impasto, and a ingenious play of foreground and background, Jin manages to construct a complex image that requires an intensive investigation. In some of his paintings he combines painting with photography to stress that imagery is partly extracted from digital media.

10 am-6 pm, until Oct 16. Other Gallery-Shanghai Space, Building 9, 50 Moganshan Lu. 021-3353-2273

Macao

A real gem

Hong Kong pop music sensation Gloria Tang, otherwise known as G.E.M., rocks Macao at her Get Everybody Moving 2011 Macao concert, following sold out shows in Hong Kong. Dubbed the young diva with the giant lungs, the Shanghai-born singer/songwriter was named Hong Kong's best newcomer.

Her self-titled EP debut in 2008 spawned No 1 hits such as All About U, while follow-up album 18 Plus topped the charts with Where Did U Go and Game Over, all while she was still a teenager.

8 pm, Oct 22. CotaiArena, The Venetian Macao, Estrada da Baia de N. Senhora da Esperanca, s/n, Taipa. 853-2882-8818

Hong Kong

Reconstructing Suzie

The world has long been fascinated by Suzie Wong, the Wanchai hooker with the heart of gold, ever since she first appeared between the pages of Richard Mason's novel The World of Suzie Wong. Australian artist Vincent Fantauzzo and film director Barney Howells have re-interpreted the story into an installation aptly named Suzie, currently on at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery. Focusing on such themes as art, prostitution and the British colonial establishment, the 15 major pieces of art are augmented by illustrative storyboards and a customized score to evoke the feel of a graphic novel.

10 am-6 pm, Tue-Sat until Oct 19. 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Central. 852-2810-0065

Noteworthy competition

The Chopin Society of Hong Kong presents The Joy of Music Festival 2011, an annual event that coincides this year with the Hong Kong International Piano Competition. Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy chairs the international competition that features 44 candidates under the age of 30. The event will also include five concerts entitled The Joy of Music Festival Writ Large. On the roster are Tigran Alikhanov, Peter Frankl, Gary Graffman and Cristina Ortiz.

Oct 16-Nov 2. Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central. 852-2868-3387

(China Daily 10/16/2011 page15)