Art beat in February

Colorful wonderland

Croatian-born artist Ana Tzarev's solo exhibition Wonderland engages viewers with an immersive experience combining nature and technology, reality and illusion. The 58 paintings and 10 sculptures on display were inspired by Tzarev's obsession and admiration of nature, and her extensive travels around the world. The works feature intricate textures and vibrant colors to express Tzarev's sense of beauty, represented by butterflies rising from blossoming flowers, lotus scattering by the tranquil pool and red-crowned cranes resting on the tree. Two large water lily sculptures debut at the exhibition, together with her other representative works of "Love and Peace", an art campaign Tzarev initiated.

10 am-6 pm, until Feb 25. Exhibition halls on the 2nd and 3rd floors of Building No 1, Today Art Museum, 32 Baiziwan Lu (Road), Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5876-0600 Ext 100.

For more photos, here

-Lin Qi

Carmen in Shanghai

Shanghai Opera House will present Georges Bizet's opera Carmen. The heroine Carmen, a fiery and seductive gypsy woman, will be played by Aurhelia Varak on Feb 26 and by Liu Ying on Feb 27. An opera with music acclaimed for brilliant melodies, great harmonies and skillful musical interpretations of the characters, Carmen depicts the downfall of Don Jose, a naive soldier who falls in love with Carmen and loses her love to another man. In a jealous rage, Jose kills Carmen onstage. Lin Yousheng will conduct the Shanghai Opera House Orchestra.

7:15 pm, Feb 26 and 27. Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Lu (Avenue), Shanghai. 400-106-8686.

Love story on wings

The Butterfly Lovers, the romantic story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, will be interpreted again by Yueju Opera, a 100-year-old traditional opera that originated in Zhejiang province. With its elegant and soft approach, the new version of The Butterfly Lovers will feature award-winning actors and actresses, who will portray the classic love story to the music of the famous violin concerto of the same name. The show is part of the ongoing NCPA Yueju Opera Week.

7:30 pm, Feb 25 and 26. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Jie (Avenue), Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

- Chen Nan