Beijing

ASEAN artists

Seven young artists from ASEAN member countries, together with three Chinese young painters, are holding a joint exhibition of their paintings drew during their half-month trip in China. The artists have visited picturesque places in Beijing and Henan province, including the Yuntai Mountain, Shaolin Temple, Great Wall and the Forbidden City. They finished 40 paintings for the show at Songzhuang village, a place known for its gathering of young artists. All the works on display focus either on the landscapes or the people they met during their trip. The young painters are from Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei and Myanmar.

10 am-4 pm, Monday to Friday, until July 31. ASEAN-China Center, No 43 Liangmaoqiao Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6532-1660.

Angelic voices

The German choir Tolzer Knabenchor will make its China debut in Beijing. Knabenchor, known as one of the best three children's choirs in the world, was founded by Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden in 1959. The choir has worked with famous conductors like Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado, and also performed with top-class choirs such as Berlin Philharmonic. In addition to the conventional classical and baroque works, such as the Magic Flute of Mozart's Die Zauberflote, the choir will also try a cross-over performance, presenting ABBA's Money, Money, Money, Queen's We Are the Champions, and Michael Jackson's Heal the World, as well as some Chinese songs.

7:30 pm, Aug 16. Forbidden City Concert Hall, Inside Zhongshan Park, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6559-8285.

Shanghai

Life as one-way train

An original physical theater production Way to Love will be staged at Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center. Four actors will present love stories set in several different eras on a minimal stage setting: two folding chairs and cloths. The director Guo Hongbo believes that life is a one-way train. No matter whom you've met, what you've done, one should remain thankful and hopeful. It's the leading drama of the second episode of the "Post Wave" campaign, from July to November, in which five plays will be staged.

7:30 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, July 31-Aug 11. Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, 288 Anfu Road, Shanghai. 021-6473-0123.

Profound oil paintings

James Cohan Gallery Shanghai is showcasing oil paintings by three Chinese artists: Huang Yuanqing, Ouyang Chun and Shi Zhiying. Skilled as a calligrapher, Huang's paintings are guided by line with profuse layers of colors and textures. Ouyang Chun is famous for his diary-style narration, and depicts urban and social life with a critical eye. In contrast to the other two artists, Shi Zhiying is known for her black-and-white oil paintings of the sea, rocks, sand gardens and grass. Shi's paintings summon intense reflection on individuality and the passage of time.

Until Aug 31. James Cohan Gallery, Shanghai, 170 Yueyang Road, Shanghai. 021 5466-0825.

Multicultural procession

The children's opera Noye's Fludde, based on the story of Noah's Ark, features music by Benjamin Britten from Britain, and was jointly produced by the KT Wong Foundation and the Northern Ireland Opera. Directed by Oliver Mears, the opera focuses on the greenhouse effect and the harmony between human and nature. The audience will also see handmade costumes, lanterns and kites created by designers from both Britain and China on the stage.

7:30 pm, until July 21. Music Tent, Lujiazui Greens, 15, Lujiazui Road East, between Yincheng Road M and the Century Avenue, Shanghai.

4008-210-522.

Guangzhou

Opera highlights

Joined by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and soprano Valentina Nafornita, BBC Concert Orchestra will present a beautiful opera night in Xinghai Concert Hall. Opera excerpts to be performed include Music of the Night from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Phantom of the Opera, Caro Nome from Verdi's Gilda, Song to the Moon from Dvorak's Rusalka and Je Veux Vivre from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. The orchestra is a regular at Proms in London, a world-renowned music festival. Apart from classical music, it also shines at light music, popular orchestral music and movie soundtracks.

8 pm, July 21. Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Road, Ersha Island, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou.

020-8735-3869.

Flavor of earlier time

Li Xiaoke, the son of Li Keran (1907-89), a master of Chinese ink paintings, will prove that art is in the genes with an exhibition of his more than 100 Chinese ink paintings at Guangdong Museum of Art. The exhibits fall into three parts: Beijing where Li lives, Tibetan areas, and Mount Huangshan in Anhui province. Depicted in black and white, the hutong, quads and the willows swinging outside the Forbidden City have a strong antique flavor. Light touches of red and green make the tranquil hills and valleys of Mount Huangshan more alluring. Besides his ink paintings, Li also displays precious photos with his father.

9 am-5 pm, until Aug 1 (closed on Mondays). Hall 1-4 of Guangdong Museum of Art, 38 Yanyu Road, Ersha Island, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou.

020-8735-1468.

Urban designs

Fangsuo Commune has invited three Chinese architects to share their ideas on how urban architecture can better fit in with the environment despite rapid urbanization at a series of public lectures this weekend. Tat Lam from Hong Kong, the lecturer on Friday, has been drawing inspirations from tulou in Fujian province for low-income housing in cities. Liu Heng, the designer of the Times Museum in Guangzhou, was invited to design for the Nansha district in 1995 and will recall those memorable days at her lecture on Saturday. Ma Yansong will share his concept about blending natural landscapes into urban designs in the future on Sunday.

7:30 pm-9:30 pm, July 19; 3 pm-5 pm, July 20-21. Fangsuo Commune, TaiKoo Hui Shopping Mall, 383 Tianhe Road, Tianhe district, Guangzhou.

020-3868-2327.

Quick pick

Bright at its best

The Black Light Theater Prague will bring its fantastic production The Flying Bicycle to Beijing. Black light drama is the most famous theater form in the Czech Republic, featuring the performers doing special treatment to different lighting to create a magical effect. It's a lovely treat for the family.

7:30 pm, July 26-28. National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

- Chen Jie

China Daily

(China Daily 07/19/2013 page20)