Life and Leisure

What's on

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-10 07:50

Beijing

Italian orchestra

Italy's La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra will present a concert featuring Puccini's Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut, Verdi's Overture to La Forza del Destino and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6. Founded by Claudio Abbado in 1982, the orchestra is composed of musicians from La Scala Opera House. Its repertoire is based on La Scala's operatic works and classic symphonies.

7:30 pm, Sept 18. National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square. 010-6655-0000

Veteran artist

A retrospective show of oil works by veteran artist Cai Liang (1932-95) is being held. On view are over 100 of his sketches, oil landscapes, portraits, and several huge-sized epic works. After spending two decades in rural Shaanxi province from the 1950s to the 1970s, Cai forged his unique style in portraying farmers in Northwest China and ordinary people at historic moments. After its Beijing debut, the show will tour Xi'an and Hangzhou.

9 am-5 pm, until Sept 16 except Mondays. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-6401-7076

Ceramics show

A solo show of the ceramic works of Guangdong native Huang Songjian, a pioneer of the Shiwan school, features 125 of his representative creations.

Shiwan ceramics, from Foshan city of Guangdong, draw inspiration from Buddhism and Taoism. Huang combines the techniques of traditional painting and sculpture in his depictions of ancient Chinese philosophers.

9 am-5 pm, until Sept 16 except Mondays. National Art Museum of China

Ode to victory

Over 80 ink paintings, oil works, prints and sculptures visualizing Chinese people's resolute efforts to fight in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression are on show. The three-part exhibition presents works depicting Chinese people's sufferings, heroic deeds on battlefields and celebrations during the final victory.

9 am-5 pm, until Sept 16 except Mondays. National Art Museum of China

Nominated works

Signature works from 10 artists nominated for the 2010 Credit Suisse Today Art Awards are on display at Today Art Museum.

Among the nominees are conceptual artists Liang Shaoji, oil painter Liu Xiaodong, video artist Yang Fudong, among others. The final winning artist will be announced in January.

10 am-5:30 pm, until Sept 18. Today Art Museum, 2/F, 32 Baiziwanlu, Chaoyang district. 010-5876-0600

Seasonal auction

The preview of the 23rd Guardian Quarterly auction presents about 3,000 works of art, ranging from ink calligraphy and painting, to jade pieces, craftworks, porcelain works, and extant and rare books from the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Highlights are several colored ink paintings by master painter Fu Baoshi, Pu Xinyu, Zhang Daqian, and He Haixia. The exhibits will all go under the hammer from Sept 18-21.

9 am-6 pm, Sept 15-17. Beijing International Hotel, 9 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng district. 010-6512-6688

Shanghai

Light opera

The Shanghai Opera House will open its 2010-11 season with the light opera, The Merry Widow.

Pioneering director Li Wei has made bold revision to the original work, adding satirical dialogues about contemporary Chinese issues.

7:30 pm, Sept 18. Shanghai Oriental Art Center-Concert Hall, 425 Dingxiang Lu. 021-6217-2426

Love story

The second episode of the Love Trilogy, Romeo & Zhu Yingtai, by theater director He Nian and playwright Ning Caishen will be presented. The play is about a rickshaw boy in love with a rich girl in 1930s Shanghai.

7:30 pm, Sept 18-19. Majestic Theater, 66 Jiangning Lu. 400-820-1585

Urban development

An exhibition, Updating China, featuring art and architecture in relation to sustainable urban development in China is being held at the Himalayas Art Museum.

Chinese and German artists have worked together on the subject of sustainable urban development in China.

9 am-5 pm, until Oct 5. Pre-Opening Office of the Himalayas Art Museum, 2F, 28, Lane 199 Fangdian Lu. 021-5033-9801

China Daily

(China Daily 09/10/2010 page20)