Art beat (April 9-29)

Beijing

Classic Beijing

Chinese tenor Ding Yi and New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra will perform at the Great Hall of the People singing both Chinese songs and Western opera arias. The orchestra of the National Ballet of China will accompany the singers under the baton of Irish conductor Derek Gleeson. Award-winning violinist Li Chuanyun will play with the orchestra. Ding is considered one of China's best tenors and is now based in Australia at the Sydney Opera House. Westenra, 26, is a crossover singer whose versatile range includes folk, pop and classical music. Beijing Performance and Arts Group are presenting the concert named Wonderful Harmony. The company will hold a series of concerts featuring artists from both home and abroad to tour the world under the Wonderful Harmony banner.

7:30 pm, April 29. Great Hall of the People, West of Tian'anmen Square, Dongcheng district, Beijing.

010-8418-6456.

Zhang's solo show

[Photo/China Daily]

The National Art Museum of China is presenting an ink art solo exhibition by Zhang Jiangzhou titled Life Whispers. As the deputy director of the National Art Institution of China, Zhang has been pursuing theoretical and practical research. His ink paintings focus on the subject of life. His work seeks inspiration from dramatic scenes such as wars and natural disasters, showing his concern and empathy for his fellow man.

9 am-5 pm, until April 17. Hall 1, 8 and 9, National Art Museum of

China, 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng

district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.

Iglesias touring China

[Photo/China Daily]

Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has received two awards in Beijing, including the First and Most Popular International Artist of All Time in China Award and the Guinness World Records award for best-selling male Latin artist, with more than 300 million global record sales. The 70-year-old is kicking off his third tour of China, taking in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing. He will perform his hits, including Dove, Hey and Wo Bist Du. Iglesias first came to China in 1971, and has always been loved and admired in the country. In 1988 in Beijing, he became the first international artist to have a live television special on Chinese National Television, singing To All the Girls I've Loved Before. He was also the foreign artist to have sold the most records in China, for which he received a tribute from the Chinese Ministry of Culture in 1995.

7:30 pm, April 14, Shanghai Grand Stage; 8 pm, April 18, Shenzhen

Concert Hall; 7:30 pm, April 21,

Beijing Exhibition Center Theater.

Artist adds splash of color

Chinese artist Chen Xiao adds color to Beijing's spring by launching his solo exhibition, Colorful World in the Eyes of Sean Chen. Chen's paintings combine colors and images inspired by New Zealand, where he has been living for nearly 30 years, and his home country. Chen moved to New Zealand in 1988 and graduated from the visual arts department at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University. Chen paints buildings and landscapes with colorful brush strokes. An exhibition of his paintings will tour China for four years and will end with an auction. All money will be donated to China's environmental protection organizations.

9 am-5 pm, April 9-22. National Museum of China, East of Tian'anmen Square, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.

Modern twist on ancient tale

[Photo/China Daily]

A modern twist on an old Chinese legend, drama Green Snake explores love, hate and the meaning of life. Commissioned by Hong Kong Arts Festival, Tian Qinxin, one of China's best theater directors, interprets the Chinese folklore Legend of White Snake. Actress Yuan Quan as the White Snake, Qin Hailu as the Green Snake and actor Xin Baiqing as the Buddha Fa Hai.

7:30 pm, through April 21. National Theater of China, No227 Guang'anmen Waidajie Street, Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-610-3721.