Listings

SHOW

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 17-22－7:30 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 theatre 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

Le Petit Prince By TNT Theater Britain

Date: May 19-21－7:30 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

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

33rd Shanghai Spring Music Festival Piano aux Jacobins Series II Piano Recital by Philippe Bianconi

Date: May 14－7:30 pm

Venue: Lyceum Theater, Shanghai

Price: 80-880 yuan

French pianist Philippe Bianconi has been described as an artist whose playing is "always close to the soul of the music, filling the space with poetry and life," (Washington Post) and who offers "an extraordinary exhibition of musicianship, technical control and good taste." Bianconi was awarded the Silver Medal in the Seventh Van Cliburn International Competition and made his acclaimed recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 1987. Since then, he has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras, including those of Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Baltimore, Atlanta, Dallas, and Montreal, and has performed at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony under James Conlon.

Contact: 400-610-3721