City guide (March 24-April 14)

Beijing

String quartet

Founded in 2007, Poland's Lutoslawski Quartet is composed of three violinists and one cellist. Its repertoire includes quartets of Witold Lutostawski and Karol Szymanowski.

7:30 pm, March 30. Forbidden City Concert Hall, West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, 010-6559-8285

Ode to Verdi

As one of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies, Otello will be on stage in the form of opera. The masterpiece composed by opera maestro Guiseppi Verdi is to

Russian ballet shapes China's embrace of dance

Underground art, literally

mark the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth. American tenor Frank Porretta will play the role of Otello, leading a cast that's a mix of Chinese and Western artists.

7:30 pm, April 11- 14. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, 010-6655-0989

Svan's life

Dutch photographer Peter de Ru records the daily life of a Swedish old man, Svan, via his camera. Discarded batteries, apples he picked, calendars full of words and marks, the old man reading newspaper at his sitting room, and everyday trifles are captured by the photographer.

10 am-6 pm, until April 6 except Mon, Three Shadows Photography Art Center, 155A Caochangdi, Chaoyang district, 010-6432-2663