Art beat (May 17-June 1)

Beijing

Wartime musical drama

The first production of Chinese Classical Fairy Tale Year 2013, the musical Yue Yun, opens at the China National Theater for Children on May 18. The protagonist, Yue Yun, is the son of a well-known heroic figure and patriot in China, who died on the battlefield to protect his country during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). He followed his father and fought on the front line at 23. The musical was staged for the first time in 1961.

3 pm and 7:15 pm every weekend from May 18 to 26. China National Theater for Children, No 64 Donganmen Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6513-4120.

Borderless orchestra

The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse comes to Beijing on a China tour that also includes Shanghai, Wuhan, Tianjin. With its 125 musicians and conductor Alondra de la Parra, the French orchestra has recorded more than 60 albums featuring music from Russian, French and Chinese musicians and tours the world on a regular basis. The concert will feature cellist Tatjana Vassiljeva (pictured).

7:30 pm, May 17. Forbidden City Concert Hall, west side of Tian'anmen, inside Zhongshan Park, Beijing. 010-6559-8285.

Three decades of song

Veteran Chinese-Korean singer Johnny Jiang will celebrate his 30-year career with a tour, titled Me and My Friends, across 40 Chinese cities. The 55-year-old has released 35 albums since his first in 1984. He won Best Mandarin Album at Taiwan's Golden Melody Award in 1991. His popular hits, including Look Back Once More, Drifting Heart and Toast to the Past, will be performed at the concerts.

7:30 pm, July 20. Beijing Exhibition Center Theater, 135 Xizhimen Waidajie, Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.

Everything in the Garden, a drama directed by Han Jie from National Theater of China, has achieved success since it premiered in 2011. After rounds of performances, it will be staged in Beijing at Peking University. Adapted from American playwright Edward Albee's Everything in the Garden, the drama revolves around heroine Jerry, who lives with husband Richard in a luxurious villa, yet they are troubled by lack of money. When Richard discovers Jerry has been turning highly lucrative tricks, his reaction sets the pair on a dramatic path, where people must pay for their excessive desires. Chinese actresses Hu Ke and Jia Ni and actor Na Wei lead in the drama.

7:30 pm, May 31 and June 1. Peking University Hall, inside Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Lu, Haidian district, Beijing. 400-650-5050.