February 3-9
February 3, 2012 Filed under Next week
Concert
Stephen Kovacevich Piano Recital
Kovacevich, an American pianist born in 1940, is best known for his interpretations of the core classical repertoire, including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Bartók. He will play Schubert’s Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major and Bagatelles Op. 126, Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-360 yuan
Tel: 6655 0000
Movie
Red Sorghum (with English subtitles)
Red Sorghum is a Chinese classic about a young woman working on a distillery for sorghum liquor in 1987. It is based on a novel by Mo Yan.
The film marked the directorial debut of internationally acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou and the acting debut of Gong Li. With its lush and lusty portrayal of peasant life, it immediately vaulted Zhang to the forefront of the Fifth Generation directors.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 4 pm
Admission: 40 yuan, 30 yuan for students and elderly
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Indie Film
Huan Huan (with Chinese and English subtitles)
A young woman named Huan Huan resolves to leave her village in Yunnan and go to the city to find work. She has been having an affair with Wang Degang, the village’s married doctor. Huan Huan marries a man named Yue Lin. Not long after her wedding, Wang helps Huan Huan’s brother pay a 1,500 yuan fine to the village family planning committee, thus clearing the way for the brother to return to the village. Huan Huan resumes her affair with Wang until Yue one day finds out about everything.
Where: UCCA Art Cinema, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chao-yang District
When: 4-6:30 pm
Admission: 15 yuan, 10 yuan for students (full-time with valid ID)
Tel: 5780 0200
Nightlife
Bob Marley’s Night
The legendary Marley helped spread Jamaican music across the globe. Now, another reggae artist from Jamaica, Abijah, will come to China for the first time to present contemporary Jamaican reggae. His single, “Revelation,” remained on the charts in Jamaica for 30 weeks, and he has performed on stages worldwide. “Mitabe (China)” will be the live band, alongside DJs such as Meiwenti Sound and Ultimate Productions.
Where: Yugongyishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 70 yuan pre-sale, 100 yuan at the door
Tel: 6404 2711
Exhibition
The Art of the Enlightenment
The Art of the Enlightenment is hosted by the National Museum of China, joined with the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden and Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen Munich. The exhibition has as many as 600 masterpieces on loan covering Chodowiecki, Friedrich, Fuseli, Gainsborough, Goya, Graff, Greuze, Hogarth, Houdon, Kauffmann, Piranesi, Raeburn, Schick, Tischbein, Vernet and Watteau. Among them are paintings, sculptures and art crafts, as well as garments and exquisite scientific instruments. The exhibition is divided into nine sections highlighting core themes of 18th century art in Europe.
Where: East side of Tian’anmen Square, 16 East Chang’an Avenue, Dongcheng District
When: Until March 31, daily except Monday, 9 am – 5 pm
Admission: 10 yuan
Tel: 6511 6400
Movie
Crumb (1994)
Crumb chronicles the life and career of the underground cartoonist Robert Crumb. Just like his critical and satirical drawings, the film records many unpopular truths about Crumb and his family, such as family violence, mental illness, sexual rejection and so on.
It took Zwigoff, the director, nine years to film the documentary. Eventually it won widespread acclaim, including both the Grand Jury Prize and best cinematography prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Where: No.3 Club, 43C, Beisanhuan Xi Lu, Haidian District
When: 7:00 pm
Admission: 15 yuan
Tel: 8211 5288
Concert
Rhythm of Spring: Beijing Symphony Orchestra Concert
Beijing Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1977, is one of the renowned symphony orchestras in China. Tan Lihua leads it as Music Director and Principal Conductor. The BSO will feature spring-themed repertoires for its 2012 seasonal debut, which includes Northwest China Capriccio Suite, Yunnan Capriccio Suite and The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-480 yuan
Tel: 6655 0000
Exhibition
Leaving Realism Behind
Leaving Realism Behind pays attention to abstract art’s progression in the East and West and the interplay between the two. The exhibition presents work by currently active artists home and abroad, such as Ding Yi, Li Songsong, Lee Ufan, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Bridget Riley and other big-name artists. Among them, the work No. 1, 1957 by American abstract master Mark Rothko will be on display. Rothko used a minimalist language of pure form to cut right to absolute existence.
Where: Pace Beijing, 798 Art District, 2 Jiu-xianqiao Road, Chao-yang District
When: Until February 12, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free on weekdays
Tel: 5978 9781
(By Niu Chen)
Fri, Feb. 3
Concert
Stephen Kovacevich Piano Recital
Kovacevich, an American pianist born in 1940, is best known for his interpretations of the core classical repertoire, including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Bartók. He will play Schubert’s Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major and Bagatelles Op. 126, Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-360 yuan
Tel: 6655 0000
January 20-26
January 20, 2012 Filed under Next week
Movie
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Joel is stunned to discover that his girlfriend Clementine has had the memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Out of desperation, he contacts the inventor of the process, Dr. Howard Mierzwiak, to have Clementine removed from his own memory. But as Joel’s memories progressively begin to disappear, he begins to discover their earlier passion.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
Nightlife
Clubbed to Death
Born in the US, DJ Boflex raved around Berlin for a few years before heading to China to pursue a career.
Where: Club Haze, SOHO A-101, 22 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 10 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5900 6128
Movie
Little Red Flowers (2006)
Based on Wang Shuo’s novel Could Be Beautiful, this film depicts the life of a four-year-old boy at a kindergarten boarding school and his struggles to fit in to a strictly regimented routine.
Where: Culture Yard, 10 Shique Hutong, Dongcheng District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 25 yuan, including soft drink and popcorn
Tel: 8404 4166
Exhibition
Nothing Lasts Forever
The Shanghai-based artist Shi Qing designs and builds eight different types of road blockades reminiscent of makeshift barriers often found on battlefields or in besieged urban areas. Each is constructed to fit across specific entry and exit points in Jianchang Hutong.
Where: Arrow Factory, 38 Jianchang Hutong, Dongcheng District
When: Until February 1, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Email: arrowfactory@gmail.com
Exhibition
Rearview Circumstances
Zhang Lun’s first solo exhibition on the mainland includes oil paintings of landscapes she created over the past three years. In the summer of 2008, Zhang bought a car and drove it between her home and studio. She found, on her way, a distinct world that was either flying backwards or moving forward in her rearview mirror
Where: Space Station, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 7, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9671
Concert
Teresa Teng’s Classic Songs
It’s said that “wherever there are Chinese people, the songs of Teresa Teng can be heard.” Teng was famous for her folk songs and romantic ballads. The singer Liu Qianwen, regarded as “little Teresa Teng,” presents Teng’s classic songs.
Where: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Bei Xinhua Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 180-1,280 yuan
Tel: 6605 5812
Dance
Ballet Third Symphony by Gustav Mahler
Created between 1895 and 1896, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 highlights his view of nature. Mahler originally called this composition A Summer’s Midday Dream. According to his principle that “symphony must cover everything like the whole world,” Mahler attempted to define all sounds of nature in this piece. Based on Mahler’s work, John Neumeier, artistic director of Hamburg Ballet, choreographs and creates the ballet under the same title.
Where: Opera House of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 180-800 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Dance
Swan Lake
Russian National Ballet Theater presents Swan Lake, accompanied by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.
Where: Poly Theater, 14 Dongzhimen Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-1,280 yuan
Tel: 6500 1188
Exhibition
Sound of Tranquil Country Road
This is a group exhibition of young artists who live in a relatively stable society, but in an unstable economic environment. Silence, hidden self, reserve and loneliness are their similarities.
Where: Gallery Yang, Unit 47 & 48, N2 Building, Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 15, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6417 9419
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Jan. 20
Movie
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Joel is stunned to discover that his girlfriend Clementine has had the memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Out of desperation, he contacts the inventor of the process, Dr. Howard Mierzwiak, to have Clementine removed from his own memory. But as Joel’s memories progressively begin to disappear, he begins to discover their earlier passion.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
Nightlife
Clubbed to Death
Born in the US, DJ Boflex raved around Berlin for a few years before heading to China to pursue a career.
Where: Club Haze, SOHO A-101, 22 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 10 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5900 6128
January 13-19
January 13, 2012 Filed under Next week
Dance
African Footprint
South Africa’s longest-running musical and dance group first performed in front of Nelson Mandela and world leaders on Robeen Island in 1999. This group will take the audience on a journey through Africa’s history, culture and spirit using traditional gumboot dance, hip-hop and modern ballet.
Where: Beijing Exhibition Center Theater, 135 Xizhimen Wai Dajie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 180-880 yuan
Tel: 4006103721
Nightlife
Wan Xiaoli
Wan, considered one of China’s top folk rock musicians, was born in 1971 in Hebei Province and began playing the harmonica and guitar at a very young age. While employed at a liquor company, he spent his spare time playing with local troupes. He left his hometown for Beijing when he was 26. After singing in pubs for five years, he won a contract with a rock label.
Where: Mako Livehouse, 36 Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 8 pm
Admission: 80 yuan advance purchase, 100 yuan at the door
Tel: 5205 1112
Nightlife
Hell City
This new local punk band released its debut album, Welcome to Hell City, this month.
Where: Mao Livehouse, 111 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9:14 pm
Admission: 50 yuan advance purchase, 80 yuan at the door
Tel: 6402 5080
Movie
Song and Moon (2011)
Since graduating from high school, Xing has lived a peaceful life in her hometown – an ethnic Dong village. When Fei, the young man she secretly loves, returns from the city with a bride named Lu, Xing becomes crestfallen. But Lu doesn’t get along with her mother-in-law, so she leaves. When Fei wants to go after her, Xing decides she’ll follow – if only her grandpa will let her.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 4 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Concert
China Philharmonic Orchestra and Five Colors Hulunbeier Children Choir
Director Yu Long and the China Philharmonic Orchestra will perform with a children’s choir from Inner Mongolia, which was founded in 2007 with children from different ethnic groups between the ages of 5 and 13.
Where: Century Theater, 40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-880 yuan
Tel: 6417 0058
Exhibition
The Desire of Plants – The Solo Exhibition of Tu Hongtao
Hu’s previous works dealt with the subjects of invasion and the relationship of humans to their urban surroundings. His new works discuss the relationship between humans and nature. Born in 1976, Hu impressed the art world with his realism.
Where: Iberia Center for Contemporary Art, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 19, daily except Monday, 11 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9531
Concert
Arcadi Volodos Piano Recital
Born in St. Petersburg in 1971, Volodos is celebrated as a “keyboard genius.” He will play Schubert’s Sonata A Minor, Brahms’ Three Intermezzi and Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-400 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Movie
Mt. Tsurugidake (2009)
Set at the end of the Meiji Era (1868-1912), this historical film tells the true story of a survey team that endured great risks to map Mt. Tsurugidake in the Japanese Alps in the early 20th century.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Jan. 13
Dance
African Footprint
South Africa’s longest-running musical and dance group first performed in front of Nelson Mandela and world leaders on Robeen Island in 1999. This group will take the audience on a journey through Africa’s history, culture and spirit using traditional gumboot dance, hip-hop and modern ballet.
Where: Beijing Exhibition Center Theater, 135 Xizhimen Wai Dajie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 180-880 yuan
Tel: 4006103721
January 6-12
January 6, 2012 Filed under Next week
Concert
Yan Pascal Tortelier and London Philharmonic Orchestra
Selections include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, called “Emperor,” and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 280-1,080 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Nightlife
Simple Plan
Founded in 1999, this Canadian pop punk band topped the Billboard charts with hit singles “I’m Just a Kid,” “Welcome to My Life” and the recent “Jet Lag.”
Where: Yugongyishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 8 pm
Admission: 280 yuan advance purchase, 380 yuan at the door
Tel: 8402 8477
Nightlife
Laurent Maur Jazz Quintet
Led by Laurent Maur playing harmonica, this jazz quintet blends funk with modern jazz.
Where: V A Live, 13 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District
When: 9:45 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 5844 3638
Movie
Here, There (2011)
Three distinct narratives, set in Shanghai, Paris and on China’s northern border, are interwoven in a captivating story about the fundamentals of life: who we are at any set point in time.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 4 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Nightlife
Heavy Metal Night
Six heavy metal bands – Forced Pose, New Tank, Tun Shu, P.V.Z., Nerve Resistance and The Lifeless – will perform tonight.
Where: Mako Livehouse, 36 Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 40 yuan advance purchase, 60 yuan at the door
Tel: 5205 1112
Drama
Walk Up and Walk Down
Known as The Odyssey of China, this play penetrates into the innermost soul of contemporary wandering urbanites. It loudly states that people are visionary animals trapped in the city.
Where: Multi-functional Theater of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 160-280 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Exhibition
Youth – On Wu Tao (1969-2001)
Born in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, Wu Tao was an artist in Yuanmingyuan in Beijing between 1993 and 1994 after he graduated from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang. This exhibition presents 22 oil paintings that he left when he committed suicide in 2001. It also presents paintings and video by his friends.
Where: 01100001, 245 Caochangdi Village, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 12, daily except Monday, 11 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5127 3204
Nightlife
Yuksek
The French electronic music producer, remixer and DJ released his second album, Living on the Edge of Time, last year.
Where: Yugongyishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 10:30 pm
Admission: 150 yuan advance purchase, 220 yuan at the door
Tel: 8402 8477
Movie
The Ice Storm (1997)
Set on Thanksgiving weekend of 1973, this film looks into the lives of a wealthy Connecticut family who are calm and civil on the outside, but whose lives are quietly falling into chaos.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Jan. 6
Concert
Yan Pascal Tortelier and London Philharmonic Orchestra
Selections include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, called “Emperor,” and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 280-1,080 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Nightlife
Simple Plan
Founded in 1999, this Canadian pop punk band topped the Billboard charts with hit singles “I’m Just a Kid,” “Welcome to My Life” and the recent “Jet Lag.”
Where: Yugongyishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 8 pm
Admission: 280 yuan advance purchase, 380 yuan at the door
Tel: 8402 8477
December 30, 2011 – January 5, 2012
December 30, 2011 Filed under Next week
Nightlife
Island
The new classical musician Ding Ke released his first full-length album, Island, in March under the label Modern Sky Records. This is his first show in Beijing since the release.
Where: Mako Livehouse, 36 Guangqu Lu,
Chaoyang District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 60 yuan advance purchase, 80 yuan at the door
Tel: 5205 1112
Movie
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Directed by Ang Lee, this British film is based on the 1811 novel of the same name by English novelist Jane Austen, starring Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
Nightlife
Terry Hsieh Collective
This jazz band was founded by music students from Oberlin Conservatory and is led by trombonist Terry Hsieh. They carry on the tradition of American classical music.
Where: Jianghu Bar, 7 Dongmianhua Hutong, Jiaodaokou Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 6401 5269
Movie
Accomplices (2009)
This French thriller coils through two stories. The film opens with a corpse floating in the Seine. The body belongs to a young man who loved a young woman and led her into his dangerous world. The other story involves two police inspectors investigating the murder.
Where: French Cultural Center, 1/F, Guangcai International Mansion, 18 Gongti Xi Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 3 pm
Admission: 20 yuan, includes cup of tea
Tel: 6553 2627
Movie
Letter from an Unknown Woman (2004)
Adapted from Stefan Zweig’s novella of the same name, this Chinese film is about a renowned writer who receives a letter from an unknown woman on his birthday in the winter of 1948 in Beijing. The woman recounts a relationship the writer has forgotten.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 4 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Concert
Ode to Joy
The Beethoven Orchestra Bonn will perform Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor under the leadership of its director, Stefan Blunier.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 200-880 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Exhibition
Cloak & Dagger – Kid Acne Solo Exhibition
This exhibition presents works by English artist Kid Acne, creating a world through graffiti, painting, installation and video. The exhibition title, Cloak & Dagger, is translated word for word in order to give an iconic outline of his Stabby Women, the characters created in his short action films. They are vigorous and charming tribeswomen in modern metropolis. In Acne’s opinion, the title is also a metaphor for artistic creation.
Where: Other Gallery, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until January 29, 2012, daily except Monday, 10:30 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6431 9684
Exhibition
As It Is – Hong Hao Solo Exhibition
This exhibition presents installations by Hong Hao, who collects invoices, old calendars, maps and posters from the flea market.
Where: Beijing Commune, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 26, daily except Monday, 11 am – 7 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 8456 2862
Movie
Poppoya (1999)
This Japanese film is about an aging railroad conductor who devotes his life to making trains run promptly in the formerly prosperous mining town of Horomai.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Dec. 30
Nightlife
Island
The new classical musician Ding Ke released his first full-length album, Island, in March under the label Modern Sky Records. This is his first show in Beijing since the release.
Where: Mako Livehouse, 36 Guangqu Lu,
Chaoyang District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 60 yuan advance purchase, 80 yuan at the door
Tel: 5205 1112
Movie
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Directed by Ang Lee, this British film is based on the 1811 novel of the same name by English novelist Jane Austen, starring Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
December 23-29
December 23, 2011 Filed under Next week
Nightlife
Voodoo Kungfu
This local metal band released the album Dark Work Music in April, combining traditional Mongolian and Tibetan musical themes with a heavy metal oeuvre.
Where: Mao Livehouse, 111 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 80 yuan advance purchase, 100 yuan at the door
Tel: 6402 5080
Movie
Hometown Boy (2010)
In this documentary, artist Liu Xiaodong returns to his hometown in Jincheng, Liaoning Province. By painting his family and childhood friends, Liu finds the enormous changes his town and the people in it have undergone. The film won Best Documentary at the 48th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan last month.
Where: Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 15 yuan, 10 yuan for students
Tel: 8459 9269
Nightlife
Anthony Wong Concert
This Hong Kong singer and composer is well-known for being the vocalist of renowned duo Tat Ming Pair in the 1980s. After the group was disbanded in 1990, Wong continued his musical career as a solo singer. He released his latest album last month, named after a poem by Li Yu, the last king of the Southern Tang Dynasty (937-975).
Where: The One Club, Building 5, 718 Art and Culture Zone, 19 Ganluyuan, Gaobeidian Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 580 yuan advance purchase, 680 yuan at the door
Tel: 5129 0082
Movie
Maundy Thursday (2006)
This South Korean film is about a convicted murderer awaiting execution and the bond he forms with a suicidal young woman who starts visiting him in prison every Thursday.
Where: Lady Book Salon, 69 Chengfu Lu, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan for a cup of tea
Tel: 6270 1928
Sun, Dec. 25
Exhibition
One of You – New Works by Konstantin Bessmertny
Born in Russia in 1964, Konstantin Bessmertny established his studio in Macao in the 1990s. His art before and after he moved to Macao lies in the new elements and inspirations he absorbed through the cultural environment and lifestyle of the mixed Chinese and European cultures.
Where: AFA Beijing Contemporary Art Center, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 19, daily except Monday, 11 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9625
Nightlife
Blackwater
Drawing from its rich repertoire of Irish songs, Blackwater is a band of international musicians based in Beijing that was founded last year. Singer Desmond McGarry is Irish-Canadian, guitarist Daniel Brustman hails from the US, accordionist Zoe Wang from China and Nico Torrese on the tenor banjo and mandolin from France.
Where: Jianghu Bar, 7 Dongmianhua Hutong, Jiao-daokou Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 30 yuan
Tel: 6401 4611
Movie
Room of Death (2007)
The body of a kidnapped 12-year-old blind girl is discovered in a warehouse near the site of a recent hit-and-run accident. Soon after, a young diabetic girl goes missing. A young police embarking on her first major investigation believes there is a link between the two cases.
Where: French Cultural Center, 1/F, Guangcai International Mansion, 18 Gongti Xi Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 20 yuan, 10 yuan for students
Tel: 6553 2627
Exhibition
Kolkoz: Parallax
Kolkoz is the French art duo of Samuel Boutruche and Benjamin Moreau. Their works include four sculptures consisting of picture frames nestled within one another to create a framed optical illusion, a series of photos of the artists taken at international museums and a series of photos – taken by NASA during the 1960s – of astronauts training in Arizona for the moon landing.
Where: Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 10, 2012, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: 15 yuan, 10 yuan for students
Tel: 8459 9269
Concert
Lawrence Foster and Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini
The opera conductor Lawrence Foster and Italian Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini present selections from classical operas such as Carmen and Turandot.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 10 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Movie
Outrage (2010)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano, this Japanese film depicts a cycle of destruction and vengeance in a crime organization.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
Fri, Dec. 23
Nightlife
Voodoo Kungfu
This local metal band released the album Dark Work Music in April, combining traditional Mongolian and Tibetan musical themes with a heavy metal oeuvre.
Where: Mao Livehouse, 111 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 80 yuan advance purchase, 100 yuan at the door
Tel: 6402 5080
Movie
Hometown Boy (2010)
In this documentary, artist Liu Xiaodong returns to his hometown in Jincheng, Liaoning Province. By painting his family and childhood friends, Liu finds the enormous changes his town and the people in it have undergone. The film won Best Documentary at the 48th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan last month.
Where: Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 15 yuan, 10 yuan for students
Tel: 8459 9269
December 16-22
December 16, 2011 Filed under Next week
Exhibition
The Metamorphosis
– Li Nannan Solo Exhibition
This exhibition presents sculptures by Li Nannan. Animals and plants are the main subjects in her works, which express her wish for the most natural way to communicate with the world.
Where: Aura Gallery, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until January 7, 2012, daily, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9280
Nightlife
WHAI
This newfound band has three members from different ethnic groups, blending rock with Chinese folk.
Where: Jiangjinjiu Bar, 2 Zhongku Hutong, Dongcheng District
When: 9:30 pm
Admission: 40 yuan advance purchase, 50 yuan at the door
Tel: 8405 0124
Nightlife
Finger Family
This Beijing punk band celebrates its 3rd birthday tonight, with several guest performers: the hard rock band Emitter and hip-hop duo MC Han and Song.
Where: Mao Livehouse, 111 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 8 pm
Admission: 50 yuan advance purchase, 80 yuan at the door
Tel: 6402 5080
Movie
Moon (2009)
Sam Bell is just two weeks away from finishing a lengthy, lonely contract mining Earth’s primary source of energy, Helium-3, on the dark side of the moon. Thanks to a glitch in the communications satellite, Bell’s only companion on this trip is Gerty, the base’s unsophisticated computer, and a recorded message from home. As his contract nears termination, Sam starts suffering from crippling headaches and vivid hallucinations, which leads to a near-fatal accident in a lunar rover.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 5 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Nightlife
Pay Reverence to Rolling Stones and Keith Richards
Two local punk bands – Run Run Loser and Summer Sunshine – perform to celebrate the birthday of Keith Richards, a founding member of the Rolling Stones.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 10 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 6436 8998
Drama
Bloody Wedding
Based on the personal tragedy of Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, this play depicts the marriage of a landowner, the youngest son of a rich family, whose bride has a seven-year affair with another young man.
Where: Penghao Theater, 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 50 and 80 yuan
Tel: 6400 6472
Exhibition
Pastoral in the Clouds
This exhibition presents oil paintings and photos by four artists, capturing pastoral scenes of Inner Mongolia, such as children’s smiles in the sunshine, wrinkles on an elder’s face and the joy of good harvest. Two of the artists were born in Inner Mongolia, and the other two grew up outside the province; all are captivated by the beauty of the province’s views and its people.
Where: Times Art Museum, F35-37 D Block, CITC Plaza, 6 Jianwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
When: Until December 28, 10 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 8567 9817
Exhibition
The Gold of the Tiger – Solo Exhibition of Feng Ye
This exhibition presents more than 20 oil paintings by Feng Ye, who earned a postgraduate degree from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in 2006. In his paintings, horses gaze into the distance, noble and quiet; knights lie on the grass; and the colors shine like polar lights.
Where: Asia Art Center, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Changyang District
When: Until January 31, 2012, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9709
Movie
Three Seasons (1999)
This American-made Vietnamese-language film depicts the past and present of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, a city now faced with the invasion of capitalism and globalization.
Where: Club 3, 43 Bei Sanhuan Xi Lu, Haidian District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 15 yuan
Tel: 8211 5288
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Dec. 16
Exhibition
The Metamorphosis – Li Nannan Solo Exhibition
This exhibition presents sculptures by Li Nannan. Animals and plants are the main subjects in her works, which express her wish for the most natural way to communicate with the world.
Where: Aura Gallery, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until January 7, 2012, daily, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9280
December 9-15
December 9, 2011 Filed under Next week
Exhibition
Chinese Ink and Wash Paintings by
Zhao Xiaohai
Zhao uses an objective technique to present a combination of reality and illusion in his ink and wash paintings. He depicts modern times with a deep affection for the traditional arts, specifically the various landscapes that appear throughout art history.
Where: babù space, Unit N2-40, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Lu,
Chaoyang District
When: Until December 16, daily, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6415 8616
Nightlife
Yang Meng
The former vocalist of the band Spring and Autumn, Yang Meng, recently released his nine-song solo album, Diary of The Sun City, depicting a utopia.
Where: Gulou 121 Bar, 121 Jiu Gulou Dajie, Xicheng District
When: 9:30 pm
Admission: 40 yuan advance purchase, 50 yuan at the door
Tel: 8404 3430
Movie
Skeletons (2010)
Directed by Nick Whitfield, this British comedy is about two men on a mission to clean out people’s closets and discover the secrets they have been keeping. It won the Best New British Feature Film award at the 2010 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 5 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Concert
The King’s Singers
This group is currently the Prince Consort Ensemble in Residence at the Royal College of Music in London. One of the most sought-after vocal ensembles, the group is known for its exceptional a cappella performances.
Where: Concert Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 80-500 yuan
Tel: 6655 0000
Drama
Wangfujing
The play covers a span of 100 years from 1910 to 2010, reflecting the bitter history surrounding Wangfujing as a microcosm of the ups and downs of Beijing.
Where: Theater Hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 Xi Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 180-580 yuan
Tel: 6655 0000
Exhibition
Holding Fire – Wang Yifan Solo Exhibition
This exhibition is Wang Yifan’s third solo exhibition, following ones in 2007 and 2009, presenting his latest creations during the past two years, including four paintings and three installations. One of his paintings depicts an old man holding a burning match, representing energy.
Where: Star Gallery, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until January 20, 2012, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9224
Exhibition
Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood – Cheng Ran Solo Exhibition
This exhibition presents a video of the same title – a three-channel video with sound, in which the artist demonstrates three characteristics of the horse: hot blood, warm blood and cold blood.
Where: Galeire Urs Meile, 104 Caochangdi Village, Changyang District
When: Until February 12, 2012, daily except Monday, 11 am – 7 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6433 3393
Movie
Goodbye, Our Kindergarten (2011)
This Japanese film tells the story of five children that walk out on their kindergarten to visit their friend, who is hospitalized for a serious illness.
Where: Club 3, 43 Bei Sanhuan Xi Lu, Haidian District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 15 yuan
Tel: 8211 5288
Fri, Dec. 9
Exhibition
Chinese Ink and Wash Paintings by Zhao Xiaohai
Zhao uses an objective technique to present a combination of reality and illusion in his ink and wash paintings. He depicts modern times with a deep affection for the traditional arts, specifically the various landscapes that appear throughout art history.
Where: babù space, Unit N2-40, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Lu,
Chaoyang District
When: Until December 16, daily, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6415 8616
November 25 – December 1
November 25, 2011 Filed under Next week
Concert
Ramzi Yassa Piano Recital
This Egyptian pianist studied at the Cairo Conservatory and later in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory and was the first Egyptian pianist to win the important Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition in Paris.
Where: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Bei Xinhua Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 50-380 yuan
Tel: 5166 1145
Nightlife
Zhang Qianqian
Zhang is a folk singer, writer, visual artist and film actress who performs songs that will warm the soul.
Where: Gulou 121 Bar, 121 Jiu Gulou Dajie, Xicheng District
When: 9:30 pm
Admission: 40 yuan advance purchase, 50 yuan at the door
Tel: 8404 3430
Nightlife
Origin
Born in the 1990s, folk singer Wang Shengnan cares more about individual attitudes toward life’s pressures. She began humming melodies when she was just 5 years old. She began learning guitar at 15 and won a contract with a folk music label at 19.
Where: Mako Livehouse, 36 Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 30 yuan advance purchase, 40 yuan at the door
Tel: 5205 1112
Movie
The Sun Beaten Path
Based on a true story, this film is about a young Tibetan who loses his mother in a motorcycle accident. The young man is unable to shake the feeling that he was responsible for her death. Seeking to cleanse his guilt, he sets out on a pilgrimage to Lhasa.
Where: Broadway Cinematheque, 2/F Building 4, north section of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), 1 Xiangheyuan Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 4 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 8438 8258 ext. 8001
Dance
Feng
This is the latest work from the local modern dance company SMX Studio. The performance seeks to break the boundaries between dancers and the audience.
Where: Nine Theater (TNT), Chaoyang Culture Center, 12 Jintai Li, Chaoyang District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 100-200 yuan, 50 yuan for students
Tel: 8599 1188
Exhibition
The Remolded Self
This exhibition presents oil paintings by Taiwanese artist Tang Jo-hung, exploring his internal subjectivity through self-portraits.
Where: Mountain Art, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until December 4, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6431 9498
Exhibition
Ember – Zhu Xinyu Solo Exhibition
Born in 1980 in Liaoning Province, Zhu Xinyu graduated from Lu Xun Fine Arts Academy. He takes an immense interest in nature and old buildings because the place he was born, raised and educated used to be a hub of heavy industry. Calm and tranquil on the surface, his works are in fact filled with emotion.
Where: Art Seasons Beijing, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until February 12, 2012, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 5978 9850
Exhibition
Floating Ice Biography – Lu Lei Solo Exhibition
This exhibition presents Hangzhou-based artist Lu Lei’s multimedia installation, comprising electronics, heating, refrigeration and petroleum.
Where: Other Gallery, 798 Art District, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Changyang District
When: Until December 11, daily except Monday, 11 am – 7 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6431 9684
Movie
The Princess of Montpensier (2010)
Set in the French Wars of Religion (1562-1598), this film tells about a young woman who is forced into marriage while passionately in love with another man.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Nov. 25
Concert
Ramzi Yassa Piano Recital
This Egyptian pianist studied at the Cairo Conservatory and later in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory and was the first Egyptian pianist to win the important Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition in Paris.
Where: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Bei Xinhua Jie, Xicheng District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: 50-380 yuan
Tel: 5166 1145
Nightlife
Zhang Qianqian
Zhang is a folk singer, writer, visual artist and film actress who performs songs that will warm the soul.
Where: Gulou 121 Bar, 121 Jiu Gulou Dajie, Xicheng District
When: 9:30 pm
Admission: 40 yuan advance purchase, 50 yuan at the door
Tel: 8404 3430
November 18-24
November 18, 2011 Filed under Next week
Nightlife
Mooncake
Founded in 2006, this Russian post-rock band has released three EPs and one full-length album featuring catchy melodies and balancing rapture and grief.
Where: The One Club, Building 5, 718 Art and Culture Zone, 19 Ganluyuan, Gaobeidian Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 8:30 pm
Admission: 100 yuan advance purchase, 150 yuan at the door
Tel: 5129 0082
Nightlife
Ajinai
This Mongolian folk band plays traditional instruments such as the horse-head-fiddle, a bow-and-string instrument with a neck carved like a horse’s head. The band sings of love for nature and life.
Where: Jianghu Bar, 7 Dongmianhua Hutong, Jiaodaokou Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 6401 5269
Nightlife
Reflector
Founded in 1997 and regarded as one of China’s first punk bands, this Beijing band is also one of the first bands from China to tour the US, performing in seven cities along the west coast in 2001.
Where: Star Live, 3/F Tango, 79 Heping Xi Jie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 80 yuan advance purchase, 120 yuan at the door
Tel: 6402 5080
Nightlife
Black Century
Formed by keyboardist Zhang Zhang, Acid Live aims for an intersection of funk, electro, house, dub, trip-hop and acid jazz.
Where: Yugongyishan, 3-1 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng District
When: 10 pm
Admission: 60 yuan
Tel: 6553 2678
Movie
Shattered (2011)
This documentary is the final chapter in Xu Tong’s trilogy, telling the story of an 80-year-old father who lives alone in the village and his daughter, the owner of an unsuccessful “massage” business in the big city.
Where: Culture Yard, 10 Shique Hutong, Beixin Qiao, Dongcheng District
When: 8 pm
Admission: 60 yuan
Tel: 8404 4166
Nightlife
Luke Leighfield
Regarded as the UK’s biggest underground pop star, this piano pop troubadour has released three albums in the past five years. His debut single “If You Haven’t Got Anything to Say” entered the UK indie singles chart at No. 5 upon its release in 2008.
Where: Weibozhiyan Club, Room 2308, 3/F North Building, SOHO Shangdu, 8 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 9:30 pm
Admission: 60 yuan, 50 yuan for students
Tel: 5900 0969
Exhibition
Henry Hudson – Between a Rock and a Hard Place
This exhibition presents a dozen new paintings and a sculpture by British artist Henry Hudson, discussing the value of art and the creation of anxiety.
Where: F2 Gallery, 319 Caochangdi Village, Changyang District
When: Until January 30, 2012, daily except Monday, 11 am – 7 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6432 8831
Exhibition
Nordic Photography Exhibition
This exhibition presents photos by seven artists from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, exploring human emotions, societal challenges and environmental issues such as climate change.
Where: Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: Until November 27, daily except Monday, 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: 15 yuan, 10 yuan for students
Tel: 8459 9269
Movie
Lost in Translation (2003)
Directed by Sofia Coppola, this film is about an aging actor who develops a unique bond with a recent college graduate after they meet in a Tokyo hotel.
Where: Blue Goat Cafe, 3 Shuimo Xinqu (150 meters north of the west gate of Tsinghua University), Haidian District
When: 7:30 pm
Admission: Free
Tel: 6265 5069
Movie
Hairspray (2007)
Set in 1962 Baltimore, this film follows the “pleasantly plump” teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.
Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Xiaoxitian, Haidian District
When: 7 pm
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 5900 9473
(By He Jianwei)
Fri, Nov.18
Nightlife
Mooncake
Founded in 2006, this Russian post-rock band has released three EPs and one full-length album featuring catchy melodies and balancing rapture and grief.
Where: The One Club, Building 5, 718 Art and Culture Zone, 19 Ganluyuan, Gaobeidian Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
When: 8:30 pm
Admission: 100 yuan advance purchase, 150 yuan at the door
Tel: 5129 0082
Ajinai
This Mongolian folk band plays traditional instruments such as the horse-head-fiddle, a bow-and-string instrument with a neck carved like a horse’s head. The band sings of love for nature and life.
Where: Jianghu Bar, 7 Dongmianhua Hutong, Jiaodaokou Nan Dajie, Dongcheng District
When: 9 pm
Admission: 40 yuan
Tel: 6401 5269
