Art beat in October

Schwarzenegger returns to form

The Last Stand, which premiered on Oct 24, is the first film by Arnold Schwarzenegger since he completed his term as governor of California. It is also South Korean director Jee-woon Kim's Hollywood debut. The action-studded film brings back a familiar Schwarzenegger to his fans, one with his signature sunglasses, guns and stunts. Schwarzenegger plays a retired sheriff who must stop a drug lord escaping to Mexico. For fans who have followed the action star over his 30-year acting career, the film will prove that their hero can still fight at the age of 66.

Sarah Chang channels Barber

Korean-American classical violinist Sarah Chang is collaborating with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra to stage the only violin concerto by US composer Samuel Barber (1910-1981). One of the most famous violin concertos of the 20th century, it unfolds its first two movements with silky melodies but dramatizes in the third movement which must be played by a violinist with superb technique.

8 pm, Oct 25. Symphony Hall, Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Road, Ersha Island, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-8735-3869.

Hungarian brass

Heralded Hungarian trumpeter Gabor Boldoczki will stage a concert with a repertoire spanning from Torelli to Bach, Handel, Mozart, Donizetti and Bartok in Guangzhou today. Accompanying Boldoczki is the Hungarian Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, one of the most famous ensembles from Central Europe.

8 pm, Oct 25. Opera Hall of Guangzhou Opera House, Exit B1 of Zhujiang New Town subway station, the interchange of Line 3 and 5, Guangzhou. 020-3839-2888.

Poetic concert returns

Pu Shu, the Chinese singer-songwriter, released two albums a decade ago and has withdrawn from the spotlight since then. The two successful albums I Went to 2000 in 1999 and Born like A Summer Flower in 2003 swept the music charts in the Chinese mainland with their poetic composition. His hits like Where Have All the Flowers Gone and Birch Forest were played almost everywhere and sung widely by college students. Pu performed in a concert titled Tree and Flower together with Taiwan indie female singer-songwriter Deserts Chang last year in Shanghai, which was a big success. The 40-year-old will present the second of the Tree and Flower concert series in Beijing on Oct 26, accompanied by Malaysian singer-songwriter Penny Tai.

7:30 pm, Oct 26. Beijing Workers' Gymnasium, Gongti West Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.