| Fairy tale
In the new stage play, Trip of Andersen by Beijing Children's Art Theater, characters from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales will tell the life story of the great writer himself. 50-300 yuan. 7:30pm, Aug 10-12, China Children's Art Theater, 64 Dong'anmen Dajie, west of Wangfujing, Dongcheng District. 6521-1425. 中国儿童剧场, 东城区东安门大街64号
Mamma Mia
The smash hit musical weaves Swedish band ABBA's songs into an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship on a Greek island paradise, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, scripts written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. 7:30pm (Mon-Sun, 280-1,280 yuan), 2:30pm (Sat-Sun, 180-880 yuan), Aug 7-19. Poly Theater, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie. 8528-2222. 保利剧院, 东直门南大街14号
Three strummers
Beijing Philharmonic Guitar Trio, one of the top ensembles in China, will give a concert. The trio, Wang Zhen, Li Huizhe, and Guo Yucheng, has won great success since its establishment in 1998. Their repertoire ranges from Baroque to modern music. 10-100 yuan, 7:30pm, Aug 16, Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park. 5166-1145. 中山音乐堂, 中山公园内
Classical youth
Asian Youth Orchestra, made up of 100 promising young musicians in Asia, present a concert of European classical symphonic works. With conductor Okko Kamu and cello solo Soo Bea, the orchestra will perform Finlandia by Sibeilius, Variations on a Rococo Theme by Tchaikovski, and Symphony No1 by Brahms. 40-100 yuan. 7:30pm, Aug 17, Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park. 5166-1145. 中山音乐堂, 中山公园内
Masters meet
A special interactive concert will be given by two Chinese traditional musical instrument players Shen Cheng and Zhang Weiliang. Shen, the established banhu player and Zhang, the most famous dizi player in China, will share their understanding of the music, and their road to success, with the audience. 30-150 yuan, 2 pm, Aug 18, Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District. 6605-7006. 北京音乐厅, 西城区北新华街
Sounds and sorcery
Under the baton of Pang Xin, the Asian Youth Orchestra, founded in 1987 in Hong Kong, will stage a concert featuring classic symphonic works such as The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Dukas, Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky, and Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov. 40-100 yuan. 7:30pm, Aug 18, Forbidden City Concert Hall. 5166-1145.
Snow White and friends
Did you know that Snow White had a big dog? And that the wicked queen had a crow to help her cast spells? China Children's Theater will give a spectacular version of this classic story, with the seven dwarfs and all your favorite characters. There's lots of fun, magic and music with puppets. 100-300 yuan, 7:15pm, Aug 17, 3 pm, 7:15pm, Aug 18, 10 am, 3pm, Aug 19, China Children's Theater, 64 Dong'anmen Dajie, west of Wangfujing, Dongcheng District. 6521-1425. 中国儿童剧场, 东城区东安门大街64号
Rapping puppets
Based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, The Ugly Duckling, this show will intrigue and entertain those looking for fun and adventure. Original, contemporary music, including rap, and large, well-crafted puppets set the stage for a lively performance perfectly suited for preschool and elementary school children. 100-120 yuan, 9:30am, 10:40am, 1pm, Aug 11, 18, 25; 9:30am, 10:40am, Aug 12, 19, 26, China Puppet Art Theater, A1, Block 1, Anhua Xili, Chaoyang District. 6424-3698. 中国木偶剧院, 安华西里1区甲1号
Exhibition
Peaceful mood
A retrospective show of Wang Zhaomin (1908-2003), with dozens of his works created 1970-1990. His water colors cover a wide theme including still-life, landscape, portrait and flowers and birds. The subdued hint constitutes peaceful atmosphere and unperturbed mood. Born in Anhui Province, Wang learned fine arts at the Hangzhou Arts School, where his classmates included Li Keran. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Aug 17. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076. 中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号
Master works
Some 200 paintings by female artist Pan Yuliang (1895-1977) are on display. Pan studied fine arts and sculpture abroad in the early 1900s and has been one of the vanguards of Chinese artists who blend Chinese and Western techniques into creations. Influenced by impressionism and Fauvism, Pan featured broad color scheme and exaggerated modeling. The skill of traditional Chinese fine brushwork can also be traced in her works. 30 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Nov 15. Capital Museum, 16 Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District. 6337-0491. 首都博物馆, 西城区复兴门外大街16号
One for summer
Themed on lotus and ponds, this exhibition aims to bring cool breeze to the hot summer day. Wu Xuelu's works emphasize bright colors and vivid composition, Lin Tianxing takes a close look at dancing flowers on the water, Li Geng's ink and wash works pour transient flavor among the brushes, and Tian Li's Forbidden City scenes blend the beauty of landscape with the ancient architecture. Free. 10am-7pm, until Aug 12. Creation Gallery, North end of Ritan Lu, Chaoyang District. 8561-7570. 可创铭佳艺苑, 日坛路北端
Double solo
Two solo exhibitions continue, with Indian artist Jitish Kallat's The 365 Days and Chinese painter Peng Lei's Double Happiness. The latter show includes Peng's recent paintings, installation and video works. Cartoon images and dolls are employed to transmit a kind of casual and cynical mood. Free. 10am-6pm, until Sep 12. Arario Beijing, Jiuchang Art Complex, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District. 5202-3800. 阿拉里奥北京艺术空间, 朝阳区安外北苑北湖渠酒厂艺术园
More the merrier
Cui Xianji, Dong Fang and another 12 artists hold a joint exhibition, War-weary, expressing the creative momentum of contemporary artists. Held during the same period is an invited show by British artists, Piers Midwinter, Katarzyna Chocian and Alice Katarina and Italian artist Andrea Facco. Free. 10am-4pm, until Aug 29. NY Arts Beijing Space, 318 Art Garden, Hegezhuang, Chaoyang District. 8457-3298. 纽约艺术中心, 朝阳区何各庄318艺术园
Current snaps
A joint photographic show conveys the language of young contemporary photographers. Yangzi's Home series takes a broad perspective on his memory, Ma Dongqin's Assemble shows people's puzzlement among the crowd, Liu Ren's works present his thinking on current society, and Hei Yue opens his inner world. Free. 10:30am-6:30pm, until Aug 10. Rain Gallery, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6432-3274. 雨画廊, 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号
On a wing
Ye Yongqing's one-person show, entitled Paint a Bird, borrows the implication of flying to convey his unconscious flow of ideas. Free. 11am-18:30pm, until Aug 10. Fun Art Space, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 8459-9257.方音画廊, 朝阳区酒仙桥路2号
Faded memory
Entitled Archeology of Memory, Qiu Zhijie's solo exhibition includes installations and oil paintings. On the surface of the cement-made monument, Qiu repeatedly records his memory with words and sentences. Layers of cement later covered the words. The content of the calligraphy includes newspaper headlines, slogan, pop song lyrics, private letters and unreadable codes of the past years. Born in Fujian Province, Qiu graduated from the engraving department of the Zhejiang Fine Arts Institute. Free. 11am-7pm, until Aug 12. Long March Cultural Transmission Center, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6438-7107. 长征艺术传播中心, 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号
Eye to eye
Dong Jun's photographs are portraits of ordinary people. Through his lens, the sitters exclusively stare at the viewers, communicating within a spiritual world. "When I examine my sitters, they actually look back on me at the same time,?said Dong, "Through the stream of communication, I can enter their inner world and explore their thought under the expression.?Besides photographs, video works and documentary on the same theme are also on show. Free. 11am-7pm, until Aug 12. Long March Cultural Transmission Center. 6438-7107. 长征艺术传播中心
Leftover art
The remains of food that has been chewed and discarded on plates form the subjects of 14 oil paintings by Zhu Yu. The works depict scraps of shrimps, fish bones, tomatoes, onions, and show the artist's obsession with fragment and adhesion. Since 2002, Zhu has taken photos of leftovers and then recreated them in his paintings, which show the flat plates on a table with visible traces of sticky liquid. The white plates provide a simple background. The use of shadows cleverly highlights the images. The viewer's attention is drawn not so much to the art itself, but rather what we discard each day. Free. 9am-4pm, until Aug 18. New Beijing Gallery, 22 Dongsi Shitiao, Dongcheng District. 6409-6380. 新北京画廊,东四十条22号
Painting with light
Photography imitating the oil painting effect. As a mirror of nature, the works reveal an impressive image of the subject matter. Free. 9am-8pm, until Aug 15. Wall Art Museum, Sixth Floor of B Beijing Fulllink Plaza, Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District. 6588-2202. 墙美术馆, 朝外大街丰联广场B座6层 |
