THE PLANNER
Culture
Takako Nishizaki In Concert
Japanese violinist Takako Nishizaki, who has been based in Hong Kong since 1974 and has rarely performed in recent years, stars in a charity concert for the benefit of the Society For Abandoned Animals Foundation. Since the society was established in 1997, it has placed more than 1,310 animals in families and schools where they will no longer be abused, beaten, neglected or left to wander the streets. Plans are also afoot to establish a permanent home for these animals and organise educational programmes for schools. The concert's programme has an animal theme, with Saint-Saens' Carnival Of The Animals performed by pianists Cherry Tsang and Helen Chua and Rossini's Cat Duet sung by sopranos Yuki Ip and Melody Ze. Nishizaki will play a selection of Chinese evergreens, such as The Pearl Of The Orient accompanied by the Slovakian conductor and pianist Peter Breiner and musicians from the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and the Slovak National Opera Orchestra. Today, 8pm. Concert Hall, Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui. $300-$700 Urbtix
China Philharmonic Orchestra
The China Philharmonic, which is based in Hong Kong, is teaming up with soprano Vivian Chan Lai-chun and tenor Alex Tam Tin-lok for an evening of music from some of the greatest operas. The pair will sing arias and duets from Tosca, La Traviata and Tales Of Hoffmann, and the orchestra will play Li Huanzhi's Spring Festival Orchestra, Bizet's Carmen Suite No 1, Beethoven's Symphony No 5 and Bruch's Violin Concerto No 1 In G Minor. Terry Leung will be the guest conductor. Today, 8pm. Concert Hall, City Hall. $70-$130 Urbtix
Forever Teresa Teng
The first official musical about the Taiwanese singing icon hits the stage this week. Seven years after her death, this musical tells the diva's life story and explores her complex personality. Three actresses play the lead character: mainlander Xiang Xiaoqiao portrays Teng as a child; Taiwanese actress Li Sin-je is the adolescent and Cass Phang is the mature Teng. Chung King-fai plays Teng's father. The $15-million production will feature spectacular sets and a cast of more than 60 performers. Tomorrow-Sunday, July 30-31. August 1-4, 6-10, 8pm. Lyric Theatre, Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai. $180-$380 Ticketek. Inquiries: 2798 7688
A Showcase Of Masterly Skills In Chinese Opera
Five winners of the Plum Blossom Award - Bai Shuxian, Wu Lingyun, Zhang Jidie, Guo Zemin and Wang Hongli - are joined by performers of National Class One standing to display some of the most 'masterly moments' in seven genres of Chinese opera. These difficult and refined moments include acrobatics, painting and weaponry in Kun, Beijing, Pu, Jin, Yu, Longjiang and Ji operas. In Putonghua with simplified Chinese and English surtitles. Tomorrow-Saturday $100-$200. Sunday $80-$180. Tomorrow, 7.30pm, Ko Shan Theatre. Friday-Saturday, 7.30pm, City Hall Concert Hall, Central. Sunday, 7.30pm. Sunday, 7.30pm, Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. Programme inquiries: 2268 7323. Urbtix
Water Margin
A highlight of the International Arts Carnival, the Hong Kong Dance Company's show Water Margin tells a story of the loyalty and integrity of a band of men and women from different backgrounds who valiantly unite to fight the injustices of corrupt officials and wealthy exploiters of their world. Based on the Chinese classic Shuihu Zhuan, the story is considered to be one of the greatest tales of chivalry in the kung-fu genre. The dance was created by choreographer Zhang Shouhe, one of the founders of Beijing's School of Modern Dance at the Beijing Dance Academy, and Zhao Jiping, who is best-known for the film scores he composed for directors Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige. The cast comprises local talent, overseas dancers and those from the mainland who are studying at the Academy for Performing Arts. Yang Yuntao stars. Proceeds from the fund-raising premiere will be donated jointly to the Boys' and Girls' Association of Hong Kong's Together We Serve Youth Challenge Project and to the dance company. Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. Friday-Saturday, 7.30pm. Sunday, 3pm. $90-$180 Urbtix. Donation hotline: 2853 2642. Programme inquiries: 2853 2611
Organ Recital
Hong Kong organist Ng Siu-wai gives a recital this evening at the Academy for Performing Arts. Starting with an introduction to the instrument, Ng performs a programme that includes JS Bach's Toccata And Fugue In F Major, BXV 540, Mendelssohn's Sonata No V In D Major, Frank Martin's Passacaille, Vierne's Impromptu And Andantino from Pieces De Fantasie and Durufle's Prelude At Fugue Sur Le Nom D'Alain, Op 7. Born in Hong Kong, Ng made her debut at St John's Cathedral in 1996. She attended Exeter College, Oxford, and studied with David Goode and David Sanger and was an organist for the Exeter College Chapel Choir. She is now based in Hong Kong. Free admission. 8.30pm, Concert Hall, Academy for Performing Arts, Wan Chai
Stephen Framil Cello Recital
Billed as the first American cellist to perform in Hanoi, the well-travelled Stephen Framil, a professor of music at Andrews University in Michigan, has been invited to play at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Friday, 7.30pm. Free. Admittance by voucher only, to be collected at the Exposition Hall in HKUST's Centre for the Arts. Vouchers can be obtained until Friday 10am-12.30pm, 2.15pm-4.30pm. Inquiries: 2358 6149
A Relaxed Life
Tani Ho, 16, a student at the Hong Kong International School, is a talented young artist who enjoys her first solo exhibition at the Fringe Club's Economist Gallery this week. Her paintings follow the theme of a leisurely and relaxed life from a cat's point of view. Proceeds from the sale of Tani's works will be donated to Operation Smile China Medical Mission. The Economist Gallery, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. Tel: 2521 7251. Ends July 31
Urbtix: 2734 9009
Urbtix/CityLine credit-
card booking: 2111 5999
Fringe: 2521 7251
CityLine: 2317 6666
TicketNet: 2312 9998
Ticketek: 3128 8288
