Performance Russian comedy

The two-act ironic comedy Even Homer Sometimes Nods written by Aleksandr Nikolayevich Ostrovsky, will be staged in the capital performed by Russian dramatists. The play unfolds as it tries to find how the route to success in world of officialdom and how to establish and destroy one's reputation. With representative ironic and sharp language, this drama looks at these issues through a young man's search for success. 7:30 pm, Mar 24, 25 at Poly Theatre, Dongsi Shitiao, Chaoyang District. 6506-5345, 6506-5343.

Romantic flavours

American pianist Siegfried Benkman is to hold a solo concert in Beijing. His repertoire will include Liszt's Etude, Chopin's Waltz op 64.2 and Etude op 10.5, Debussy's Reflections of the Water, Ravel's A Boat in the Ocean, and Chinese composer Xian Xinghai's Ode to the Yellow River. A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory Institute, Bankman has been famous for his Western classical music with romantic flavours. 7:30 pm, Apr 1 at Forbidden City Concert Hall in Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square. 6559-8285.

Commemorative show

To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, the founder of modern prose drama, a concert titled Nora's Songs will be given. With pianist Wolfgang Plagge, violinist Annar Folles and soprano Gao Xia, the Norwegian Ibsen Trio will present the classic works of the celebrated playwright. 7:30 pm, Mar 20 at Peking University Concert Hall, Peking University, Haidian District. 6275-2279, 6275-9637.

Chamber music

The chamber concert series of China Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will greet audiences with a woodwind quintet, a string quartet plus Bach's piano concerto and suite. 7:30 pm, Mar 25 at the Concert Hall of the Central Conservatory of Music, 43 Baojiajie, Xicheng District. 6641-4759, 6642-5744. , 43

Children's drama

Fairytale Nian will be staged to remind the children of their happy Spring Festival memories. In this play, Nian is a lovely little monster who wants to make friends. On the eve of Spring Festival, Nian comes to Hulu and Haqian, two protagonists in the fairy series, and wants to see in the New Year with them. But two firecracker brothers, who bear old ideas towards Nian, want to blow them away. With the help of Hulu and Haqian, the brothers come to understand Nian and become good friends with him. 7:30 pm, Mar 25 at Holiday Classics Small Theatre, Forth Floor of China Children Theatre, 64 Dong'anmen Dajie, Wangfujing. 6521-1425. , 64

Cowboy storm

The American cowboy band "Prairie Rose Wranglers" will bring their frank songs to Beijing. Based in Kansas, the folk song troupe has been popular for its rigorous chords and humorous style. With their free and unrestrained songs, they tell the peaceful and poetic stories of the prairies. The performance includes Full Gallop, Red River Valley, Beautiful Prairie, Ghost Riders in the Sky, and others. Fully attired in cowboy hats, jeans, boots, colourful shirts, scarves and belt buckles, they bring the stage to life with a feel of the not so wild west. Great Wall on Mar 29, Beijing Century Theatre on Mar 30, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 8402-0996. .

Dance drama

Ryuzanji & Company from Japan brings their dance drama Tranquil Songs to Beijing. Conscious of the collision of the Eastern and Western culture, Show Ryuzanji, founder of the company, has engaged in the revival of classic works and adapted them for the modern stage. 7:30 pm, Mar 21-23 at Opera House of People's Liberation Army, 60 Deshengmennei Dajie, Jishuitan, Haidian District. 6406-9999. , 60,

Holy fire

With the approach of spring, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra will hold a concert before their European tour this month. To be performed are Overture to the Force of Destiny by Verdi, a percussion concerto of Holy Fire - 2008 by Chinese composer Tang Jianping, and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No 2 in A minor. 7:30 pm, Mar 19 at Peking University Concert Hall, Peking University, Haidian District. 6275-2279, 6275-9637.

Exhibitions

Back on art

Traditional swaddling brace collections from the minority groups of Guizhou Province are still on display. Donated by private collector Ma Zhengrong, the swaddling brace, or beishan (), are used by women to carry infants on their backs. With delicate design and exquisite embroidery, it reflects the wisdom of mothers and various local artistic flavours of ethnic groups. 9 am-5 pm, until Mar 20 at China National Art Museum, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076/2252. , 1

Light from the past

The Italian Renaissance Art Exhibition continues with more than 80 masterpieces, dating from the late 13th century to the 19th century. Among them are 11 paintings that have never before been exhibited from the Florentine Bardini collection. 9 am-4 pm, until Apr 23 at the Millennium Art Museum, A9 Fuxinglu, Haidian District. 6851-3322. , 9

Joint show

A grand show of more than 50 professional artists is ongoing. Participating artists include Ban Xuejian, Chen Fei, Chen Guang, Guo Lizhong and others. With various styles, their works open a window to the contemporary Chinese art scene. 10:30 am-6:30 pm, until Mar 31 at Rain Gallery, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6432-3274. , 4

Ancient bronze

Highlights of the archaeological discoveries unearthed in 1989 at Dayangzhou, Xigan County, Jiangxi Province, are now on show in Beijing. These 179 pieces of historical relics, mainly of bronze, jade and ceramics, are from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC). Viewers can enjoy the exquisite bronze tiger-shaped vessels plus deer-shaped, or dragon-shaped vessels with pointed legs or overhead handle. The designs also have various decorations of Taotie (, a mythical ferocious animal) masks, whorl grains and string lines. Bronze arrows, darts, spearheads and farm tools are also exhibited. 8:30 am-4:30 pm, until Aug 28 at China National Museum, East of Tian'anmen Square. 6512-8901. ,

Metaphorical landscape

Beijing painter Hong Ling's oil paintings are distinguished for their comparison between the inner world and nature, abstract and realistic presentation, freehand and fine brushwork. Graduated from the oil school of the Capital Normal University and now a professor in the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Hong, 50, has made outstanding progress throughout his career. 10 am-5 pm, until Mar 26 at Soka Art Centre, 107 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District. 8401-2377. , 107

Grand scene

A one-painting exhibition is underway with Shen Jingdong's New Grand Ceremony Of National Day. With his period of creation lasting a whole year, Shen conveys history from his own comprehension and angle. Different from Dong Xiwen's famous work of the same name, Shen's work portrays the moment with well-spaced colour and background, leading viewers to the memories of the past. 10 am-5 pm, Apr 10 at 88 Art Documents Storehouse, Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District. 8470-1780, 6435-9824. 88,

Universal ideas

Artist Andrea Gotti will install a stage composed of electrical transformers, cables, industrial waste, welded crafts and detritus on a billiards table. She intends to tell the story of the interconnection of the world, the illusion of daily life, as well as life and shadows in nature. 10 am-6:30 pm, until Mar 26 at Beijing Tokyo Art Project, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 8457-3245. , 4

Figures of vitality

Sheng Qi's solo exhibition shows his recent oil paintings. With portraits as the main theme, Sheng explores his ideas with both abstract and realistic styles. Abstract works are presented with deformed facial expressions and pure and bright colours. The others convey the beauty of the female visage and body with smiles and vitality. The backgrounds of the images are dotted with signs and Chinese characters, reflecting the mood of the artist. 11 am-6 pm, Mar 11-Apr 16 at 798/Red Gate Gallery, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6438-1005. 798/, 2

Reality and illusion

A multimedia art exhibition entitled Happy Days is ongoing. Including Zhang Hui, Wang Mao, Wang Chen and Wang Renke, the group try to present the combining elements of theatre and performance with contemporary art. Through their collective works of painting, photography, video and installation, the show builds a world somewhere between reality and illusion. 11 am-7 pm, until Mar 31 at Long March Cultural Transmission Centre, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6438-7107. , 4

(China Daily 03/17/2006 page12)