Four Focuses
The Grotto Fine Art gallery exhibits the work of four leading Hong Kong photographers with the theme 'the manipulation of light and darkness'. Born in 1925, Ha Bik-chuen is a master of painting, sculpture, photography and relief prints. Joe Kwok shoots temples, villages and people with a Polaroid SX-70 camera. Warren Leung Chi-wo shows cityscapes of Venice, New York and Hong Kong. Josiah Leung is one of Hong Kong's leading corporate photographers. Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Grotto Fine Art Ltd, 2/F 31C-D Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 2121 2270.
www.grottofineart.com. Ends Sep 28
Madama Butterfly
Today is the final day of the critically acclaimed show produced by Lo King-man with live orchestration by the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Hong Kong Opera Society chorus and a cast of international vocalists that includes Li Xiuying as Butterfly. Today, 7.30pm. Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. $120-$650 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2268 7321
Top Brass
Resident conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Choi Ho-man, has designed a series of family concerts that promise to take the intimidation out of classical concerts and appeal to a younger audience. Hong Kong Philharmonic's principal trombonist, Jarod Vermette, and bass trombonist, Denson Paul Pollard, play a programme that includes Mussorgsky's Night On Bald Mountain and Derek Bourgeois' Trombone Concerto. Sat, 8pm. Sun, 3pm. Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium, Kwai Tsing. $80 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2312 6103 or visit
www.hkpo.com
Ren Zhang Piano Recital
The Shanghai-born pianist Ren Zhang was first recognised as a major talent at his recital debut at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1996. Then a recipient of the Shura Cherkassky Award, he has since played at New York's Distinguished Artist Concert Series and in Europe. This weekend he plays works by Scarlatti, Schumann, Chopin, Ravel and Balakirev in the second of five concerts in the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre Piano series. Sun, 8pm. City Hall Theatre, Central. $80-$120 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2268 7321
Shall We Ha?
Trinity Theatre presents a drama questioning the concept of happiness. 'Have you smiled recently?' the troupe asks. Today-Fri, 8pm. Fringe Studio, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. $65-$85 Ticketek. Inquiries: 2521 7251
Extra Curricular
The Proving Ground
On December, 26, 1998, 115 boats set sail in the annual Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. Five days and 1,000 km later, only 43 made it over the finish line. Six participants died and 55 had to be rescued from 25-metre waves. Hong Kong-based Wall Street Journal correspondent Bruce Knecht wrote the international best-seller The Proving Ground about the disastrous race, inspiring a CNN documentary and now a movie. Knecht screens the documentary and talks at the Foreign Correspondents' Club's Documentary Dinner. Tonight, 7.30pm. The main dining room, FCC, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. $175 members, $220 guests. Inquiries and reservations call 2521 1511 or e-mail
[email protected]
Fragrant Harbour
The English Book Club meets today to discuss John Lanchester's recent novel Fragrant Harbour, dubbed 'The Great Expat Novel' and one which spans seven decades of Hong Kong's history. The Book Club is open to the public. Today, 7pm. Volkswagen Fotogalerie, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. Inquiries: call Jackie Lo 2521 9126
The Dating Game
'Interactive dating is exploding in the United States and Japan and it's just starting to take hold in Hong Kong. It is one of the few profitable Web site businesses,' says Margaret Yeung, president of the Hong Kong Webgirls, an organisation she says is 'Hong Kong's best-known resource for women switched on to the World Wide Web'. The group of tech-savvy women throw monthly meetings and invite speakers to talk about aspects of the Internet. Today's topic is online dating: how leading players in Hong Kong's singles industry are making profitable use of the Web; how online dating works and how to date on the Web safely. Although the group is usually aimed at women, tonight's meeting is open to men also. Today, 7.30pm. Network Centre, 6/F Landmark East, Central. Free for members, $50 for guests. Inquiries: call 2976 1679, visit
www.hkwebgirls.com or e-mail Margaret at
[email protected]
Night Scene
Tango Club
Tango enthusiasts gather at the Fringe Club for an evening of dancing, drinking and socialising. E & J Gallo Gallery, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. For inquiries e-mail Beatrice Remy at
[email protected]
Irish Logic
PJ Murphy's is giving away free drinks today, as we are 'half-way to Saint Patrick's Day'. Dress in green and you will be given free shooters. Fresh oysters are $9 apiece and a traditional Irish band provide the music. Free drinks 6.30pm-8pm. PJ Murphy's, 32 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 2782 3383
Urbtix: 2734 9009
Urbtix/CityLine credit-
card booking: 2111 5999
Fringe: 2521 7251
CityLine: 2317 6666
TicketNet: 2312 9998
Ticketek: 3128 8288
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