Pet Shop Boys

The high lords of British pop arrive in Hong Kong for a one-night-only show on Wednesday at the Hong Kong Convention And Exhibition Centre. They perform hits from their new album, Release, which sees the duo fuse guitars and good old rock'n'roll sounds with their electro melodies. Hong Kong Convention And Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. 8pm. $280-$680 Ticketek

Dishui Nanyin Concert

Nanyin is one of the most popular genres of Cantonese opera, and dishui nanyin is a style that originated with blind musicians. In the final show of this part of the Chinese Operatic Art Series, famous nanyin singers Tong Kin-woon, Kam Ming-chiu and Au Kwan-cheung give performances of pieces such as The Faithful Maid Saving Her Master From Substituting A Dead Cat For A Newborn Prince, Heartbreaking Memories Of The Qin Beauty and The Cowherd And The Weaver Girl. Today, 7.30pm. Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre, Shau Kei Wan. $80-$140 Urbtix

Dreams In A Toy Box

Fire your imagination with a performance by Japan's Puppet Theatre Kawasemi-Za, a highlight of the International Arts Carnival this week. Dreams In A Toy Box is a series of stories without words, acted out by luminous puppets that walk and fly around the stage as their masters, dressed in black and barely visible, dance behind them. Friday and Saturday, 7.30pm, and Saturday, 3pm. Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre. Sunday, 7.30pm. North District Town Hall Auditorium. Inquiries: 2370 1044. $100-$160 Urbtix

ROTA

Brazil's Companhia De Danca Deborah Colker has astounded audiences globally with this show, which melds classical ballet with contemporary dance to a musical score ranging from Mozart to Miles Davis ('Their movements seemed to defy gravity', marvelled the Observer after a show in Britain). The show consists of two acts. The first, Gravity, mixes everyday movements with classical ballet to represent the slowed-down world of astronauts in outer space. The second, Wheel, features dancers on a seven-metre-high Ferris wheel. Friday and Saturday, 7.30pm, Sunday, 3pm. Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 2370 1044. $100-$250 Urbtix

III Domains: Human Ghost Deity

The Cantonese Opera Workshop has re-worked scenes from three operas by Tong Dik-seng - A Dream Of Misconceptions In The West Chamber, The Reincarnation Of A Dedicated Lover and Phoenix Of Eternal Love - to create a contemporary show of stunning costumes and original art direction. Friday until August 6, 7.30pm. Friday and Saturday, 2.30pm. Cultural Centre Studio Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 2268 7323. $100-$120 Urbtix

Culture

Finale Festivities

For the grand finale of its silver jubilee season, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will play a Chinese orchestral version of Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, with the arrangement of the late Peng Xiuwen. It will be Hong Kong Philharmonic conductor Samuel Wong's debut performance with the orchestra and will also feature a performance by the up-and-coming wind instrumentalist, Tang Junqiao, the dizi soloist who played in the film score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. August 30-31, 8pm. Concert Hall, Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 3185 1600. $90-$150 Urbtix

Recent Paintings By Shen Hanwu

Shen Hanwu is a leading figure in the Chinese realist school. He is a member of the Chinese National Artists' Association and also director of the Wuhan Artists' Association. A few years ago, the artist visited the country village where he was sent during the Cultural Revolution. The works in this exhibition are a result of this visit. Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm. Yan Gallery, G/F 77 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 2139 2345

Jazz Up Lecture Series

The Leisure And Cultural Services Department continues its Jazz Up series with a number of lectures. The topic for today is An Introduction To Afro-Cuban Brazilian Music. Subjects to be discussed are last month's Cubanismo! gig, the Danish saxophonist Hans Ulrik and Hong Kong singer Angelita Li. Leading the lecture will be Felix Lopez, Li and Peter Lee with demonstrations by a three-piece rhythm section. Today, 7.30pm. Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre. Inquiries: 2268 7321. $50 Urbtix

Urbtix: 2734 9009

Urbtix/CityLine credit-card booking: 2111 5999

Fringe: 2521 7251

CityLine: 2317 6666

TicketNet: 2312 9998

Ticketek: 3128 8288