Best bets

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Date: Jan 17－8 pm

Venue: Shanghai Expo Culture Center

Price: 480-1,280 yuan

Since making their full-length debut with 2012's multiplatinum Night Visions, Imagine Dragons have drawn worldwide adoration for their anthemic yet moody alt-rock. On their third album Evolve, the Grammy Award-winning band shift perspective and take on a brighter but more layered emotional outlook. "The last year's been the healthiest year of my life, and I think that's very much reflected in the music," says lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, whose bandmates include guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. "There's definitely some moments of sadness on this album, but there's also moments of real celebration."

[Photo provided to China Daily]

A Coproduction of NCPA and Wiener Staatsoper Opera Falstaff

Date: Dec 3-10－7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 100-880 yuan

The three-act opera Falstaff was adopted from the image of the character Falstaff in Shakespeare's Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor by the scriptwriter Boito, with music composed by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. Falstaff is Verdi's swan song. In his later years Verdi collaborated with Boito in creating Falstaff in a buoyant style of writing with inspiration from Shakespeare's works. Verdi gave this complicated role rounded personalities and described his absurdity in a lyric style, making Falstaff an intriguing work of art. Falstaff has been listed in global opera houses' repertoire, which is greatly different in style from his earlier works. The composer integrated his rich feelings and experiences about life into the creation of this opera. As Verdi's last opera, it was composed by his best techniques.