Art beat ... finger on the pulse

Beijing

New age pianist to perform

American songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman will perform a show in Beijing. With six gold and platinum albums to his name, the musician is known for his solo piano compositions and pop-style instrumentals. He started learning piano at age 5 and has earned two Grammy nominations for his albums Peace in 2003 for best instrumental and Faith in 2009 for best New Age album.

7:30 pm, Nov 1. Oriental Theater, No 11, Chaoyang Beidajie, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.

French children's choir visits

After touring 15 cities in China last year, the French children's choir, Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc, will perform a show in Beijing under the baton of Nicolas Porte. The chorus became internationally known after its members' involvement in the 2004 film Les Choristes, or The Chorus, which earned two Oscar nominations including one for best original song. The nominated song, Look to Your Path, is sung in the film by lead actor Jean-Baptiste Maunier, who was a soloist in the choir.

7:30 pm, Nov 2-3. Poly Theater, Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6500-1188.

Pop veteran returns to spotlight

Taiwan pop singer Terry Lin, who is known for his soprano voice, will hold a concert in Beijing, titled One Take. Lin, 47, entered the music industry in 1983 as a member of a ukulele duo, which won a Golden Melody Award. Lin went solo in 1996 and released over 25 studio albums. Thanks to his performances on I Am A Singer, a popular TV show on the Hunan Satellite TV Station, he returned to the limelight and is working on his new album.

7:30 pm, Nov 16. Mastercard Center, formerly Wukesong Arena, No 69, Fuxinglu, Haidian district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.

Shanghai

Glass sculpture donated

Slovakian artist Pavol Hloska has donated his latest creation, glass sculpture The Tower to the Shanghai Museum of Glass. Hloska, 58, is internationally famous for his optical glass artworks, which fully present the unique quality of glass by luminous cuttings like diamonds. The 100 centimeter-high sculpture has joined the permanent exhibition in the museum. A special exhibition is being held at Levant Art Gallery, presenting more glass artworks from Slovakia, brought to China by Gallery Nova from Slovakia.

9:30 am-5 pm, Tue-Sun, Shanghai Museum of Glass, 685 Changjiang Xi Road, Baoshan district, Shanghai. 021-66181970.

Glass from Slovak exhibition: 10 am-6 pm, Mon-Fri, until Nov 5, Levant Gallery of Art, 4F, Building 20, 28 Yuyao Road, Shanghai. 021-5213-5366.

Ice-skating cartoons

Disney on Ice, the ice show featuring figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters, will return to Shanghai. The performances, deriving their music and plots from various Disney films and properties, have been very popular with children in Shanghai. Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove is the latest production from Feld Entertainment. The show integrates stories from eight Disney films and 50 characters, from its first feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to the 50th Tangled. The show toured successfully in Japan and Dalian in Liaoning province. It will move to Macao after seven shows in Shanghai.

7:30 pm, Nov 15-17. Mercedes-Benz Arena, 1200 Expo Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. 021-5150-9199.

Imperial palace art

Long Museum is presenting a solo exhibition of the work of Puru (1896-1963). The artist is a member of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, and once was a candidate for the throne. His cousin Puyi was chosen to be the last emperor of China. As a prince, Puru was able to access the rich art collection in the imperial palace. With the fall of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), he made a living by selling paintings and calligraphy. He had strongly opposed Puyi's cooperation with the Japanese invaders and moved to Taiwan in 1947. Founder of Long Museum Liu Yiqian is a passionate lover of Puru's art and possesses what is possibly the largest private collection of his work.

9:30 am-5 pm, Mon-Sun, Oct 26-Jun 30, 2014. Long Museum, 210, Lane 2255 Luoshan Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. 021-6877-8787.

Telepopmusic debuts in China

French group Telepopmusic will give its debut concert in China. Telepopmusic is a French electronic music trio founded in 1997. Fabrice Dumont takes responsibility of the overall musical arrangements, structure and bass playing, whereas Stephan Haeri takes charge of all kinds of audio processing and mixing, and Chirstophe Hetier works as a popular Anti-pop DJ. Breathe from the band's album Genetic World won a Grammy award nomination and in 2013 the group released a new EP named Try Me Anyway/Fever.

9 pm, Nov 8. Shanghai QSW (Shallow Water Bay) Culture Center - Grand Theater, 179 Yichang Road, Shanghai. 021-6266-1110.

Guangzhou

Three painters tell their stories

Three young oil painters tell their stories of working and living in a bustling city with their colorful, imaginative artworks at Kui Yuan Gallery, a beautiful Western-style historic building in Guangzhou. The highlight of the joint-exhibition includes paintings by Liang Manyong, a fresh graduate from Guangzhou Academy of Art. The figure of a cute monster exists in each of his works. The monster is on a fantasy journey, attending the funeral of a rose or popping up on a bus without a destination, each hinting at an escape from the pressure of urban life that many young people have dreamed about.

10 am-10 pm, daily until Nov 5. Kui Yuan Gallery, Xuguyuan Road, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-8765-9746.

Finnish quintet sings a capella

Five crystal voices blending beautifully without disturbance from any musical instrument, Finnish a-cappella ensemble Viisi will take the audience at their concert in Guangzhou this Saturday far away to the green grasslands and blue lakes shimmering in the sun in the northern European country. The concert is made of Finnish folk songs and fresh covers of English hits including Crazy in Love and I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Comprising five female soloists, Viisi was founded in 2003 but has toured extensively and performed at important occasions such as a UNICEF concert in 2011.

8 pm, Nov 2. Experimental Theater of Guangzhou Opera House, Exit B1 of Zhujiang New Town subway station, the interchange of Line 3 and 5, Guangzhou. 020-3839-2888.

A good day for Bad Day

Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter is coming to Guangzhou with his rhythmic pop tunes and refreshing voice. His biggest hit is Bad Day, which swept the world in 2005 and was crowned No 1 Billboard hit of that year. Powter plays the piano and talks about urban life in his lyrics. At his concert in Guangzhou on Nov 7, Powter will perform tracks from his latest album Turn on the Lights in addition to hits such as Bad Day and Free Loop.

8 pm, Nov 7. Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Lu, Ersha Island, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-8735-3869.

Trifecta of dance

Bolero, Medea and flamenco, all remind you of breathtaking dance, don't they? Now the National Ballet of Spain will perform all three together in one night. Ravel's haunting melody and rhythm of Bolero inspired many choreographers including Nijinsky and Maurice Bejart. Now Jose Granero presents his 1987 production. He also interprets the myth of Medea into Spanish ballet. Farruca, choreographed by Juan Quintero, is a perfect example of flamenco combined with ballet, especially the exquisite footwork.

7:30 pm, Nov 1 and 2. National Center for the Performing Arts, West of Tian'anmen Square, Beijing.

Chen Jie

(China Daily 11/01/2013 page20)