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Robin Lynam

CLASSICAL MUSIC Empire Brass. Friday, City Hall Concert Hall, 8pm, $150, $110, $70, half price for full-time students, senior and disabled citizens.

One of the United States' leading brass ensembles with a repertoire that extends from renaissance music through the classics to jazz and show tunes. All the members are drawn from leading American orchestras, and through this performing and recording unit have been influential popularisers of the brass repertoire.

  This programme includes Bach's Fantasie And Fugue, Rimsky Korsakov's Flight Of The Bumble Bee, excerpts from Bizet's Carmen and music from four Walt Disney movies.

  You can't fault the eclecticism, and the same will probably be true of the performance.

  THEATRE Phantom Of The Opera. Grand Theatre, Cultural Centre, today 2.30 pm, 8.15 pm, Monday, Tuesday 8.15pm. The last night of the Phantom Of The Opera is Tuesday so you have four more shows in which to catch the musical before it stops haunting the Cultural Centre. Sunset Boulevard next, I suppose.

  Andrew Lloyd Webber's music, Peter Karrie's performance and Harold Prince's staging.

   Characteristically of Lloyd Webber, not an original idea and a largely meaningless libretto, but undeniably spectacularly staged.

  FIREWORKS Macau is the middle of an international fireworks competition Asian and European nations.

   Today's contest will be between the Jiangxi Wanzai Dongfeng Fireworks Factory of China and the Swiss entrants from Bugano.

  On October 5, Portugal faces Italy. Spain took an early lead in the contest, beating Germany. In all, the contest consists of 10 separate displays in the night skies over four weeks.

  EXHIBITIONS Jinta Yapa Aboriginal Art. Wagner Art Gallery, 7/F Lusitano Building, 4 Duddell Street, Central, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. Art from the Outback celebrating nature in the central desert of Australia.

  Aboriginal paintings have a spiritual significance as well as an aesthetic one and offer an insight into the 'dreamtime' experience. This is the latest in a series of exhibitions at the gallery featuring Australian art.

  Antique Maps. Wattis Fine Art, 2/F, 20 Hollywood Road, today 1pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. Maps of the world as it was imagined to be in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

   The display includes six rare 18th century charts of the world, Asia, Africa, South America, India, and North and South America. Among a selection of masterpieces of the cartographer's art are several maps of China.

  MUSIC Folk Night, Fringe Club Theatre, Tuesday, 8pm, $50, $25 Fringe Club and Folk Society Members. The theme for this month's Fringe Folk Night is drinking songs, presided over by guest master of ceremonies Howard McKay who, as manager of The Wanch, ought to know something about the subject. Musicians are welcome to turn up and sit in.

Eugene Pao Group, Friday, 8.30pm, the park outside the Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, free. Guitarist Pao performs as part of the Nescafe Showtime programme outside the Arts Centre.

   A good opportunity to hear one of Hong Kong's finest musicians in an open-air setting. Pao's solo album, featuring legendary American drummer Jack de Johnette, is due for release shortly.

  CINEMA Tom and Viv. Thursday, 7pm, City Hall Theatre, $42, full-time students, British Council students and senior and disabled citizens $30. The story of T.S. Eliot's first marriage featuring a superb performance from Miranda Richardson as the independently minded Viv, who was ultimately committed to a lunatic asylum.

  Willem Dafoe delivers a strong performance as Eliot.

  The film also offers some useful insights into what made the century's greatest English language poet tick.

  CHRISTMAS APPEAL Local charities are appealing for funds through the sale of Christmas cards. This week, and in succeeding weeks, we are giving details of how, if they wish, readers can channel their Christmas card spending to these charities.

 Hospice Care: Provides care for the dying, to maintain the quality of life until its end. Cards of Hong Kong harbour, Adoration of the Magi and other scenes. GPO Box 13772. Tel: 2868 1211. Fax 2530 3290. Cost $40 per pack of 10.

 Spare A New Toy Appeal (SANTA): To give Christmas toys to orphaned and handicapped children in institutions. Drawings of old Hong Kong streets, Hong Kong by night and other scenes. GP0 Box 9439. Tel: 2813 8555. Fax: 2813 8555. $40 per pack of 10.



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