SHOWS

Man and Superman

Date: May 21-June 9 - 2 pm

Venue: Guangzhou Opera House Price: 140 yuan

Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, Schindler's List, Oedipus at the National Theater) plays Jack Tanner in this exhilarating reinvention of Shaw's witty, provocative classic. Jack Tanner, celebrated radical thinker and rich bachelor, seems an unlikely choice as guardian to the alluring heiress, Ann. But she takes it in her assured stride and, despite the love of a poet, she decides to marry and tame this dazzling revolutionary.

Tanner, appalled by the whiff of domesticity, is tipped off by his chauffeur and flees to Spain, where he is captured by bandits and meets The Devil. An extraordinary dream-debate, heaven versus hell, ensues. Following in hot pursuit, Ann is there when Tanner awakes, as fierce in her certainty as he is in his. A romantic comedy, an epic fairytale, a fiery philosophical debate, Man and Superman asks fundamental questions about how we live.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Le Petit Prince By TNT Theater Britain

Date: May 21 - 7:30 pm

Venue: Beijing Chaoyang 9 Theater-Che

Price: 120-380 yuan

Le Petit Prince is one of the most famous stories in modern fiction. It was written by the pioneer flyer and war hero Antoine de Saint-Exupery and follows closely on his own experiences when he crash landed in the great Sahara Desert and walked to safety. In the story the hero crashes in the remote desert too but he meets a fabulous Prince form a distant planet who has arrived on earth. The Prince is a beautiful but tragic figure; he tells the pilot of his journeys around the universe to different planets. Each (often very small!) planet has a single inhabitant. These are all types of human that we know, a King, a drunkard, a geographer, and a finally someone who we do not know: a talking flower! The stories the Prince tells are profound, poetic and emotional. At last the Pilot manages to mend his fragile airplane but the Prince is becoming sadder and sadder as the Pilot becomes wiser and wiser with the Prince's knowledge. The Prince becomes fascinated with a dangerous and talking snake and ignores the warnings of the Pilot. The Prince dies or does he? His smile enters the stars and as the Pilot flies away to safety he sees his friend the lost, sad, boy Prince smiling at him in the twinkling stars. TNT's version capture style magic of the original philosophical fairy tale. Music, dance and comedy are woven together with the drama of the Pilot's flight and the emotional poetry of the Little Prince's story. Music from TNT's well know composer, Paul Flush, operates rather like a film score and heightens the drama and emotion. This great story appeals to adults and older children alike and moves us to laughter and tears so we will never look at a star again without thinking of the Little Prince smiling from in its silver heart. The production is performed by French actors in their original language with Chinese subtitles. The directors are Phil Smith and Paul Stebbings of TNT Theater.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Chaiti 2016 - Indian Classical Music

Date: May 21 - 4 pm

Venue: Shanghai Centre Theater

Price: 150-200 yuan

The name Chaiti is derived from the Indian month of Chaith which is the summer time. Chaiti melodies (instrumental & vocal) evoke the mood and magic of springtime transiting to summer. Continuing the tradition begun in 2013, The Indian Consulate in Shanghai presents an enchanting evening showcasing the rich musical and cultural heritage of India. Chaiti 2016 features a Sarod recital by two outstanding artists, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayan Ali Khan. Sarod is a beautiful string instrument from India, and is closely linked to the 'lute' family. The seated player holds the instrument across his lap. The strings of the Sarod are plucked with a plectrum held in the right hand, while the fingernails of the left hand press the strings. Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan are brothers representing the best of traditional and modern India. They belong to the seventh generation of a musical lineage known as the Senia Bangash School. Amaan Ali Khan, is the eldest son and disciple of the Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan and grandson of Haafiz Ali Khan. He gave his first public performance at age eight. Amaan's musical style is marked by its precision in tunefulness, bold and resonant strokes, along with tradition and continuity of Indian Classical Music. Today, Amaan is considered one of the finest Sarod players in the world and is an inspiration for the younger generation of musicians. He continues to enchant audiences with his virtuosity, sheer brilliance and charismatic stage presence. Ayaan Ali Khan is the younger son and disciple of the Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan. Ayaan stepped into the world of music and the Sarod, at a very early age, with confidence, clarity, consistency and technical mastery all of which he learnt at his father's knees. Ayaan gave his solo debut when he was eight years old and has been performing concerts in India and abroad, since then. He has also assisted his illustrious father at concerts all over the world. His approach, vision and versatility make him an icon for the youth in the music industry, and for music lovers everywhere.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Broadway Original Musical - My Fair Lady

Date: May 21-22 - 7:30 pm

Venue: Guangzhou Opera House

Price: 80-880 yuan

My Fair Lady is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a lady. The original Broadway, London and film versions all starred Rex Harrison. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a momentous hit, setting a record for the longest run of any major musical theater production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and numerous revivals. It has been called "the perfect musical".

Contact: 400-610-3721

Swingle Singers 2016 Shanghai Concert

Date: May 22 - 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Daning Theater

Price: 80-580 yuan

The Swingles are a vocal group, originally formed in 1962 in Paris, France by Ward Swingle with Anne Germain, Jeanette Baucomont, Jean Cussac, Christiane Legrand and other singers.

Until 2011, the group consisted of eight voices: two sopranos, two altos, two tenors and two basses. The French group performed and recorded typically with only a double bass and drums as accompaniment. The current group performs primarily a cappella. In 1973, the original French group disbanded and Ward Swingle moved to London and recruited all new members who debuted as Swingle II.

The group later performed and recorded under the name The Swingles and then, The New Swingle Singers then simply, The Swingle Singers. Recently, the group began once again operating under the name The Swingles. Since the London group's incarnation, the group has never disbanded. As individual members have left the group, the remaining members have held auditions for replacements.

Contact: 400-610-3721

ACTIVITIES & NIGHTLIFE

2016 Sino-Sierra Leone International Cultural Exchange Year

Date: Through the end of 2016

Venue: Embassy of Sierra Leone

Price: Free

The 2016 Sino-Sierra Leone International Cultural Exchange Year was officially kicked off recently in Beijing, marking the official launching of the Africa Asia Development Cooperation Organization, with a buffet reception held by the organization in the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Beijing. The event, which will last through the end of 2016, aims at enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between people in Asia and in Africa, through introducing to each other the culture and art of modern China and Asia in multiple forms, such as painting, handicraft, folk art, film and photograph, according to Zhang Guoyi, the secretary-general of the organization.

Contact: 138-1121-2110

The 4th annual conference of World Cultural Forum

Date: June 7-9 - All day

Venue: Venetican Macao Resort Hotel

Price: Free

This year's conference is themed to build a new civilization for a community of common destiny for all mankind. The theme is a response to President Xi Jinping's idea of the community, which aims to push for civilization inclusion and world peace and common development. It will call upon world's leaders to work together, break obsolete ideas and actions, and develop a new civilization and a harmonious and prosperous era. Chinese government and business leaders, foreign politicians and experts will be there to discuss global consensus, the common community's ecological philosophy, and Belt and Road development. The forum is a non-governmental organization and was founded to promote development of the Chinese culture and cross-cultural communications between China and foreign countries.

Contact: 853-6215-2565

Modern '80s

Date: May 25 - 6 pm

Venue: Rosewood Beijing

Price: Free

Whether you're from the '70s, are a '90s bitch, or hail any from decade that came before or after, you will have a special place in your heart dedicated to the '80s. Let that part of your heart bleed at Mei Bar's '80s-themed night. They will play a selection of the decade's finest musical offerings, and will be serving Belvedere vodka by the bottle, or in cocktail form.

Contact: 010-6536-0083

R Lifestyle - Themed Ladies Night

Date: Every Thursday - 8 pm

Venue: Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel

Price: Free

As one of the classical events of the "Evening at Renaissance" collection, our Ladies Night, which creates the image of elegance, energetic, stylish and chic, has always been an attraction to local guests in Beijing. Now you are about to witness a significant enhancement in these events with the most welcomed local elements: Baijiu Tasting, Guzheng Music, Spring Blossom, Local Fashion Show and Local Songwriters... These factors of local cultural discovery are ready to WOW you in the very beginning of 2016, and bring about unique experiences of local culture only at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel/Ladies presented will enjoy exquisite cocktails free flow and canapes passing around, while gentlemen can also enjoy themselves with our buy-one-get-one-free discount on the theme-inspired cocktails. Join the crowd for a themed Ladies Night every Thursday, and allow us to show you the "Business Unusual" lifestyle by our ultimate creativities!

Contact: 010-5863-8221

East Shore Live Jazz Cafe

Date: Everyday from 11 am

Venue: 2 Qianhai Nanyan Lu

Price: 100-199 yuan

Boasting dark wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling windows offering an eyeful of Houhai, this small jazz dive defines urban sophistication. Started by Liu Yuan, Cui Jian's former saxophonist, it's the most authentic jazz joint in town, featuring top acts from Thursday to Sunday. In warmer months, arrive in time to take in stunning sunset views from their second-floor terrace. When Liu Yuan started playing the sax, jazz was still seen as bourgeois and chord charts were hard to come by. Raised by folk-musician parents, he performed with Cui Jian, the father of Chinese rock, before dedicating himself under the influences of John Coltrane and Miles Davis to jazz. Now Liu's East Shore is the most promising venue in Beijing's budding jazz scene. Located on the banks of Houhai Lake, East Shore is a refuge from the trinket sellers and gaudy bars along the crowded shore. Its large windows give clear views over the water, and leather armchairs and dark wooden floorboards provide the necessary sultry ambiance. Thursdays through Sundays, a constellation of house bands, including the owner's Liu Yuan Jazz Quartet, plays from 10 pm until late.

Contact : 400-610-3721

SPORTS

2016 Shanghai Rolex Masters

Date: Oct 9-16 - 1 pm

Venue: Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Center

Price: 160-900 yuan

Welcome to the 8th Edition of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, one of the world's biggest tennis tournaments and the only such tournament to be staged outside North America and Europe. The Shanghai Rolex Masters is one of only nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in the world and is the culmination and feature event of the Asian Swing. The Shanghai Rolex Masters was named ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The singles is a 56 draw which means the top eight seeds get first round byes. It is elimination from the first round. There are four wild cards, determined by the tournament directors and seven qualifiers who come through a 28 qualifying draw. In doubles, it is a 24 draw which means the eight seeds have first round byes. It is also elimination from the first round. A total of 99 matches will be played.

Contact: 400-610-3721