Performance

Lasting love

The musical Jinsha narrates the tragic love between Jin and Sha, which is inspired by the 3,000-year-old Jinsha culture, whose relics are located in Sichuan Province. The production recreates magnificent battle scenes, extravagant imperial feasts and mysterious sacrifice rituals. It has teamed up famous composer Sanbao and a young and promising cast, including Tan Weiwei and Yan Beina. 80-880 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 28, 29. Poly Theater, Dongsi Shitiao. 6506-5345, 6506-5343. 保利剧院，朝阳区东四十条

Dance party

The National Ballet of China (NBO) will present a special performance in cooperation with two troupes from Guangzhou and Inner Mongolia, as well as several ballet stars from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Czech Republic. They will celebrate the New Year with dances from both classic and contemporary ballet productions, such as Pirate, Pink Floyd Ballet and Beethoven's Symphony No 7. 80-880 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 28-30. Tianqiao Theater, 30 Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District. 8315-6170, 8315-6300. 天桥剧场，宣武区北纬路30号

Fantastic folk

Famous Chinese singers will present a special concert featuring both Chinese and Western folk songs. Li Guangxi, Wang Jing and Ge Yunping will perform, among others, accompanied by the philharmonic orchestra of the China Musician's Association. 80-1,280 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 28. Forbidden City Concert Hall, in Zhongshan Park, Northwest of Tian'anmen Square. 6559-8285. 中山音乐堂，中山公园内

Harmonious society

Founded in 1995, the Hanover Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit community orchestra dedicated to fostering the love of music. They wish to bring together the elderly and the young, professionals and amateurs, audiences and artists through the joyous bond of music. Artistic Director Florian Stubenvoll will take the baton. 180-2,008 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 28, 29. Century Theater, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6468-3311. 世纪剧院，朝阳区亮马桥路

Anything goes

Since 1986, the Kolner Philharmonie has been an integral part of Europe's music scene. It has won acclaim for its versatility and is known to seamlessly switch genres, including jazz, folk, pop and experimental music. They will perform Brahms' Symphony No 2, Stravinsky's Der Feuervogel, J. Strauss II's works and several Chinese pieces. 180-1,680 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 29. Great Hall of People. 6416-9990, 6417-0058. 人民大会堂

Classical approach

The China National Orchestra will play classic Chinese music and adapted Western pieces under the baton of Xu Zhijun. Founded in 1960, the orchestra has toured around the world and won wide acclaim for its devotion to spreading traditional Chinese music. 80-880 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 30. 中山音乐堂

Ringing in the New Year

Philip Mackenzie will conduct the Amadeus Orchestra for the Imagine the 2008 Olympics concert in celebration of the New Year. The program includes Rachmaninov's Symphony No 2, Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Borodin's Overture to Prince Igor, Rossini's Overture to William Tell and other New Year's favorites.

180-1,080 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 30,31. Beizhan Theater, Xizhimenwai Dajie, Haidian District. 6835-4455. 北展剧场，海淀区西直门外大街

Spanish strings

The Asturias Symphony Orchestra (OSPA) from Spain, comprised of talented musicians from 19 countries under the baton of Maximiano Valdes, promises an unforgettable night with a broad repertoire. They will perform Carmen Suite by Bizet, Capriccio Espagnol by Korsakov, Judean Boy by Moncayo and The Cocked Hats by Manuel de Falla, among others. 80-2,008 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 30, 31. Poly Theater. 保利剧院

Polish presentations

The Capella Cracoviensis, of Poland, was founded by Stanislaw Galonski in 1970, and today includes distinguished musicians. It is composed of a chamber orchestra, a madrigalist ensemble, a male vocal ensemble and an independent wind instruments ensemble. Its repertoire ranges from the mediaeval to the contemporary, with a special focus on Polish music.180-2,008 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 31, Jan 1. Century Theater, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6468-3311. 世纪剧院，朝阳区亮马桥路

Waltzing along

The symphony orchestra of the China Opera and Dance Company will present a waltz night, featuring Strauss Jr's signature works, such as Thunder and Lightning Polka, Emperor Waltz and Overture to The Bat. The program also includes Khatchaturian's Masquerade Suite, Waltz, and Lehar's Gold and Silver Waltz. 80-1,080 yuan. 7:30pm, Dec 31. Forbidden City Concert Hall. 中山音乐堂

Meeting of the minds

Hu Yongyan will conduct the EOS Orchestra of the Central Conservatory of Music to present a concerto night alongside winners of the First EOS "Dean Cup" Concerto Competition. The program includes Mendelssohn's Symphony No 4 in A Major, Tchaikovsky's Overture of 1812, Chopin's Piano Concerto No 1 in E Minor and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 in C Minor. 50-500 yuan. 7:30pm, Jan 4. Concert Hall of the Central Conservatory of Music, 43 Baojiajie Street. 6641-4759, 6642-5744. 中央音乐学院音乐厅, 西城区鲍家街43号

Exhibition

Look Ma, no hands!

Qin Hai creates on flowers-and-birds paintings free-handedly. His compositions are majestic, and the details are full of poetic charm. Among the animals and plants there is a rhythmic change from looseness to denseness and from activity to passivity. The ink scheme is applied on the principal and auxiliary matter with different saturations, forming automatically the foregrounds and backgrounds. 20 yuan. 9am-5pm, until Jan 6. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. 6401-7076. 中国美术馆, 东城区五四大街1号

Visual variety

Tim Yip's solo exhibition, If I'm Free, Are You There, includes multimedia works, including sculptures, installations and video works. As a Chinese visual artist, Yip hovers between the avant-garde and the traditional. His art reflects his personal analysis of new oriental aesthetics with a subtle, natural, poetic and picturesque visual language and a humanistic solicitude that distinguishes it from forms and symbols.

9am-4pm, until Jan 3. Today Art Museum, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District. 5876-9690. 今日美术馆, 朝阳区百子湾路32号苹果社区4号楼

Spanish snapshots

Spanish photographer Rafael Navarro presents for the first time in China a selection of his work under the title Introspecciones, as part of the Year of Spain in China. The exhibition is comprised of 47 works with which the curator wants to show Rafael Navarro's keystones approaches: Nudes and abstraction, as well as previous works. Through his lens, the touch of a satin fabric against the skin puts the audience in a privileged position from which it can observe the artist's inner world. Free. 10am-5pm. Cervantes Institute, A1 Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District. 5879-9666. 塞万提斯学院, 朝阳区工体南路甲1号

Let's get real

The contemporary art exhibition Lost & Found includes the works of eight artists who try to demonstrate the process of reproducing reality. The Modern and Post-Modern trends might run astray of Realism, while the need to return seems urgent for most young artists. The participating artists emphasize their personal consciousness and honest responses to the subjective world through installations, photographs and paintings. Free. 10am-5pm, until Dec 28. Soka Art Center, B-103 Sky&Sea Business Plaza, 107 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District. 8401-5810. 索卡, 东城区东四北大街107号天海商务大厦B座103室

Fun and festive

A show of small works commemorating Christmas is slated for exhibition at Artist Village. With the participation of such villagers as Yanyu, Dalong and Yang Xiubiao, the works on show are festive and joyous in detail and composition. 15 yuan. 9am-midnight, until Dec 28. Artist Village Gallery, 1 North of Rencun, Songzhuang, Tongzhou District. 6959-8343. 宋庄画家村画廊, 通州区宋庄任村北一号

Fantastic foursome

A group show includes works by American artists Sherrie Levine, Robert Longo, Richard Prince and Cindy Sherman. Starting with two artists who began with Metro in 1980 - Cindy Sherman and Robert Longo - it continues with two artists who joined the gallery in the '90s - Tony Oursler, represented by a projection piece, and Gary Simmons, with two new paintings. From Chelsea to Caochangdi. Free. 10am-6pm, until Dec 29. Chambers Fine Art, Red 1-D, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District. 5127-3298. 前波画廊，朝阳区草场地红一号D座

Considering contemplation

Li Dingxiong explores the state of contemplation with brush and ink. Combining the elements of Behaviorist, Abstract and Realistic art, Li enjoys thinking deeply while creating his works. Free. 10am-6pm, until Dec 29. GSR Gallery, 1 Huguang Zhongjie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District. 6479-2699. 金德瑞艺术中心, 朝阳区望京湖光中街1号

Looking within

Wu Dayu chooses to insulate himself in his inner world. Enjoying calmness and content, Wu delineates his comprehension of life, memory, loneliness and dreams.10am-5pm, until Dec 30. Lin & Keng Gallery, 3 Dongbinhe Lu, Andingmen, Dongcheng District. 8422-2322. 大未来画廊，东城区安定门东滨河路3号

Plateau paintings

Born and raised in the Loess Plateau, Chen Xiaoxiong recreates his nostalgia memories through oil paintings of plateau scenes. Chen depicts Tibetan architecture, dress, food, married life, tabooing, celebratory activities and traditions. The temples, red walls, gold tops, tall sutra banners and ever-spinning prayer wheels form a tableau of solemn feeling. Free. 9:30am-6pm, Dec 1-31. Qin Gallery, 1-1E Huawei Li, north of Beijing Curio City, Chaoyang District. 8779-0461. 秦昊画廊,朝阳区华威里1-1E, 北京古玩城北

Contemporary creations

More than 10 artists use their recent works created recently and during their early years to demonstrate the history and evolution of contemporary art through comparison and contrast. Free. 10am-6pm, until Dec 31. TRA Gallery, C2006 Hall, Jiuchang Art Complex, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District. 5202-3883. TRA画廊, 朝阳区安外北苑北湖渠酒厂艺术园C2006室

Moved by the spirit

Korean artist Lee Yong-Beck's video and installation works tap religious themes and historical inspirations. Free. 10am-6pm, until Jan 2. Arario Beijing, Jiuchang Art Complex, Beihuqu Lu, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District. 5202-3800. 阿拉里奥北京艺术空间, 朝阳区安外北苑北湖渠酒厂艺术园

(China Daily 12/26/2007 page12)