Beijing

DPRK opera

The opera The Flower Girl performed by Pibada Opera Company from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be staged in Beijing.

The opera tells a tragic story of Huani (a flower girl) in the troubled times of Japanese occupation. The show has been performed 1,400 times in the past 30 years, including several stagings in China.

7:30 pm, July 19-22. National Centre for the Performing Arts , 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district. 010-6655-0000

Singer of wide range

Taiwan singer Jam Hsiao appears in a solo concert in Beijing, one stop in his world tour.

The 25-year-old Hsiao boasts a wide vocal range and diverse music genres.

He has swept all the Mandarin song-ranking lists since his debut in 2007. "I was so carried away," a contest judge once said upon hearing him. "This voice makes me want to marry him."

7:30 pm, July 21. MasterCard Center, 69 Fuxing Lu, Haidian district. 400-880-2880

High-flying sounds

Swedish synthpop duo Kite will perform in Beijing on July 19 as one stop of their China tour, which also includes Suzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai.

The duo has hit many music festivals around the world since debuting in 2008 via the unique combination of 1980s synthpop styles and modern and experimental sounds.

10 pm, July 19. Yugong Yishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng district. 010-6404-2077

Shanghai

A night of Dickens

Oliver Twist is a British musical based upon the 19-century novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.

The show is directed by Paul Stebbings from TNT theater of Britain, whose productions have toured more than 20 countries.

7:30 pm, until July 22, except Mondays. Drama Salon, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, F3, 288 Anfu Lu. 021-6473-4567

Ax: life and death

The first solo exhibition of Swedish artist Anastasia Ax in China is held in Shanghai. Entitled Step into the Current, the exhibition displays works with themes of creation and destruction, life and death. Ax has also created a specific installation relating to the architecture in the gallery.

11 am-6 pm, until July 31 except Mondays, Am Art Space, 50B Fengxian Lu, Jing'an district. 021-6384-2432

Group show

Art Bang Project IV group exhibition is the fourth art event organized by www.art-bang.com, a clublike arts organization which gathers young artists from various fields.

Seven post-1980 artists present works, including oil paintings, engravings and sculpture, in the exhibition.

9:30 am-4 pm, until July 22 except Mondays. Zhu Qizhan Art Museum, 580 Ouyang Lu, Hongkou district. 021-5671-0741

Macao

Naughty nights

Hot on the heels of the runaway hit House of Dancing Water, Belgium showman Franco Dragone unveils his latest collaboration with City of Dreams. Taboo is a risque cabaret-inspired extravaganza that titillates, tempts and teases all the senses. Definitely adult only entertainment, it is held for a limited run in Macao's largest nightclub, Club Cubic. Featuring performing artists Dragone personally handpicked from the world's nooks and crannies, the show's voluptuous contortionists, sultry singers and daring dancers make a decadent night of theater.

10 pm, until Sept 15, Wed-Sat. Club Cubic, City of Dreams, Macao. 853-8868-6767

Hong Kong

Chance for Picasso

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso is widely acknowledged as one of the 20th century's greatest painters. Musee National Picasso in Paris is currently undergoing a major renovation, which allows its collection of paintings from all eras of the master's repertoire to tour around the world.

Following successful shows in Taipei and Shanghai, the 48 paintings and seven sculptures are in Hong Kong, for one last week. Don't miss this chance to see his best work dating from the late 19th century to his death in 1973.

10 am-8 pm, until July 22, closed on Tue. Hong Kong Heritage Museum, 1 Man Lam Road, Shatin. 852-2180-8188

China Daily

(China Daily 07/15/2012 page15)