Art beat (July 26-Aug 22)

Festival of harmony

[Photo/China Daily]

The annual August Choir Festival presented by National Center for the Performing Arts from Aug 2 to 10 will feature six choruses from Spain, Austria, Britain and China. The NCPA Choir will kick off the festival, singing popular Chinese folk songs. The Salzburg Folk Song Choir will perform in their exotic costumes.

7:30 pm, Aug 2-10. National Center for the Performing Arts, West of Tian'anmen square, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

Pet Shop Boys go electric

[Photo/China Daily]

One of the most successful pop groups in the world, Pet Shop Boys is embarking on their first tour to the Chinese mainland this summer, bringing electronic dance music from their 17th album, Electric, along with their hits selected from their 30-year career, including West End Girls, Go West and Always on My Mind. The duo, which consists of Neil Tennant on vocals, keyboards and guitar and Chris Lowe on keyboards, have sold more than 50 millions records worldwide and have been nominated for six Grammy awards. The new album has evolved as a response to their previous albums. Pet Shop Boys was one of the very first Western electronic music artists known by Chinese fans. The duo became better known in China after performing West End Girls at the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games.

8 pm, Aug 20. Shanghai Grand Stage. Aug 22, Beijing Mastercard Center. 400-620-6006.