Art beat (March 28-May 4)

Beijing

Dramatic discovery

Xi'an Qujiang Performing Arts Company produced a play Tomorrow, which tells a dramatic story and explores the human soul. The story is about He Liang, a brave young man who gets injured when he fights with four criminals and is sent to the hospital.

In the same ward he meets Guan Yunian, who tried to commit suicide because he became disabled in an accident 12 years earlier. Later He discovers that it was a trick he played himself that caused Guan's accident. Directed by Ren Ming from Beijing People's Art Theater, the play features Zhou Yiwei as He and Wang Jishi as Guan.

7:30 pm, April 18-21. National Center for the Performing Arts, West of Tian'anmen Square, Beijing. 010- 6655-0000.

Ancient dreamscapes

Interested in the life of people in the Wei and Jin dynasties? Two Chinese artists, Wang Yi and Wei Guangjun, have collaborated to present people of that ancient period indulging themselves in mountains and woods via their ink paintings.

The show, called Dreaming Back to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, displays about 50 Chinese paintings, among which 30 are done by the two artists together: Wang draws the figures first and Wei adds landscapes. The artists express their understanding of life by depicting ancient figures against landscapes with dreamlike faces and movements.

7:30 am-4:30 pm, until May 4. Jiale Hall of Prince Gong's Mansion, 17 Qianhai West Street, Xicheng district. 010-8328-8149.

Dancing to a fresh beat

[Photo/China Daily]

Young choreographers and dancers from the National Ballet of China will showcase their talent in a gala this weekend at Tianqiao Theater.

Close Your Eyes in the Dark, choreographed by Zhang Zhenxin, explores the confusion of living life in a modern city; Li Jun's White Snake uses the old Chinese legend to explore people in today's world; Ji by Yu Bo and Xing Liang features tai chi and Zen while Fei Bo's Monument is set to Ravel's Bolero. All works are the result of the company's annual choreography workshop in which the classically trained ballet dancers try new styles.

7:30 pm, April 19 and 20. Tianqiao Theater, No 21 Beiwei Lu, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-8315-6337, 010- 8315-6338.

Countertenor a rare treat for classical fans

[Photo/China Daily]

During the Renaissance women were not allowed to sing in a Catholic Mass, so men had to have the vocal range of a contralto or mezzo-soprano. Such singers were called countertenor.

The popularity of the countertenor voice later waned, and few compositions were written for the vocal range. But thanks to the growing popularity of baroque opera and early music, the countertenor has seen something of a revival in the second half of the 20th century.

Singers able to sing countertenor are rare, so this Saturday's concert at the Forbidden City Concert Hall is a must-see. French countertenor Damien Guillon and the early music ensemble Le Banquet Celeste will perform melodies written by Vivaldi, Tartini and Scarlatti.

7:30 pm, April 20. Forbidden City Concert Hall, inside Zhongshan Park. 010-6559-8285.

Tiny masterpieces in fan art exhibition

[Photo/China Daily]

Painting on a small canvas, such as a fan, requires accuracy in composition and is a highly skilled art. The National Museum of China's latest exhibition will display 90 pieces from its collection of antique fan painting.

The works date back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, and fall into four categories, mountain-and-water, flower-and-bird, human form and calligraphy. The exhibition will present fan art by established artists, such as Wen Zhengming and Dong Qichang, and distinguished persons, such as Lin Zexu.

9 am-5 pm, no admission after 4 pm, closed on Monday, until March 28, 2014. National Art Museum of China, east of Tian'anmen Square, 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-65116400.

Munich Philharmonic with Chinese pianist

[Photo/China Daily]

Conductor Lorin Maazel will lead Munich Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied by solo pianist Zhang Haochen. Zhang 23, from Shanghai is yet another talented protege of Gary Graffman, whose students include Lang Lang and Yuja Wang. In June 2009, Zhang won the gold medal in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, becoming the first Asian to win the honor.

He will play Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 4. The 120-year-old Munich Philharmonic Orchestra is considered one of the best orchestras in Europe. Gustav Mahler directed the orchestra in 1901 and 1910 at the world premieres of his 4th and 8th symphonies.

In 1911, the orchestra premiered Mahler's Song of the Earth, six months after the composer's death. Maazel is serving as the orchestra's music director for a three-year run from the 2012/13 season. They will also play Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture and Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.

7:30 pm, April 24. National Center for the Performing Arts. 010-6655-0000.