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Erika Na

This August, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) becomes a global stage for an eclectic line-up of cultural events.
From an intriguing flamenco adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera to classical 19th-century Russian ballets to contemporary art exhibitions, there is something for everyone. Here are five highlights.
1. Flamenco adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera

The longest-running show in Broadway history is taking a fresh turn via a unique fusion with flamenco, a Spanish folk dance known for its intense movements and portrayals of emotion.
Ballet Flamenco de Granada, one of Spain’s three major flamenco dance troupes, is touring China with its adaptation of the musical, with a stop in Shenzhen at the beginning of August.
Dates: August 1-2
Venue: Bay Opera of Shenzhen
How to get there: Exit B2, Linhai station via Shenzhen Metro Line 5
Tickets: 98-880 yuan, available via Damai
2. Dance of Fire by the Malevo dance company

Argentine all-male sensation Malevo are known for reinventing the country’s malambo folk dance – a rhythmic battle dance born among gauchos (South American cowboys) – and have shared stages with Ricky Martin and Cirque du Soleil.
Following their well-received appearance at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in March, they are returning to this part of the world with an energy-charged show of thundering footwork and pulsating drums.
Date: August 1-3
Venue: MixC World Theater, Shenzhen
How to get there: Hi-Tech Park station, via Shenzhen Metro Line 1
Tickets: 180-580 yuan, available to buy on Damai or Artmate.
3. Swan Lake and The Nutcracker by the Russian State Ballet
The Russian State Ballet is touring China with two of the most popular ballets from the 19th century, making stops in Foshan, Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the GBA.
Even those unfamiliar with ballet will recognise both Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, which were created by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in the late 19th century.
Swan Lake follows Princess Odette, who is cursed by an evil magician and transformed into a swan, and can only return to human form at night by the side of an enchanted lake. A prince falls in love with her and vows to break the spell, despite relentless efforts to tear them apart.
The Nutcracker remains a beloved Christmas classic. The story unfolds on Christmas Eve when young Clara receives a magical nutcracker doll. That night, the doll springs to life, whisking her away on a fantastical adventure filled with battles between toy soldiers and mice.
Swan Lake dates: August 1 (Foshan), August 2 (Shenzhen), August 3 (Guangzhou)
The Nutcracker dates: August 2 (Shenzhen), August 3 (Guangzhou)
Venues: Shunde Performing Arts Centre (Foshan), Shenzhen Poly Theatre (Shenzhen), You Yi Ju Yuan (Guangzhou)
How to get there: Xincheng Dong station via Foshan Metro (Foshan); Exit E1, Houhai station via Shenzhen Metro Line 2, 8 or 11 (Shenzhen); Gongyuanqian station via Guangzhou Metro Line 1 and 2 (Guangzhou)
Tickets: 180 yuan to 880 yuan, available for purchase on Damai
4. George Harliono’s Laurel Voices piano recital in Shenzhen
British-Indonesian pianist George Harliono will take to the stage in Shenzhen in a solo programme featuring signature works including Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 and No. 2, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and three of Liszt’s Transcendental Études and Mephisto Waltz No. 1.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by George Harliono (@georgeharliono)



A 2023 silver medallist at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Harliono maintains an active performance schedule across Europe and Asia.
His Shenzhen recital marks the opening stop of his China tour, with subsequent performances in seven cities including Chengdu and Suzhou.
Date: August 7, 2025
Venue: Nanshan Culture and Sports Centre
How to get there: Exit B, Taoyuan Station via Shenzhen Metro Line 1 and 12
Tickets: 80-280 yuan, available to buy here
5. Contemporary art exhibitions in Guangzhou
Hong Kong artists Tang Kwong-san and Yuen Nga-chi combine for an exhibition titled “Floating World” that opens on July 19 at the Guangdong Times Museum (GTM). Curated by Chris Wan Feng, it runs until October 12.

If you are going to Guangzhou for the day, consider a trip to the unique art space Mirrored Gardens, where prominent artists such as Cao Fei, Danh Vo and Zheng Guogu have works on show.
And until August 24, the Canton Gallery is holding a solo exhibition of British artist Matt Hope called “How I Got Here”.
For details, visit GTM’s Instagram account @timesmuseum; Mirrored Garden’s website; and Canton Gallery’s Instagram account @cantongallery


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British-Indonesian pianist George Harliono will perform in Shenzhen on August 7 as part of his China tour. Photo: georgeharliono.com

Poster for Ballet Flamenco de Granada’s The Phantom of the Opera. Photo: 247tickets

Poster for Malevo’s Dance of Fire. Photo: Artmate

A still from the film Landing on the East (2021), part of “Floating World” at the Guangdong Times Museum (GTM). Photo: Courtesy of Tang Kwong-san and Yuen Nga-chi

How 20th-century Hong Kong and Guangdong art stood out from the rest of China

Artworks at the exhibition examine how Cantonese artists developed a unique identity during the 20th century. Photo: Dickson Lee

Artworks are displayed at “Canton Modern: Art and Visual Culture, 1900s-1970s”, a new exhibition at Hong Kong’s M+ museum that looks at Cantonese artists during the 20th century, and how events shaped their work. Photo: Dickson Lee

An artwork by Yip Yan-chuen depicting Hennessy Road in Hong Kong. A series of landscape sketches at the “Canton Modern” exhibition chronicle Yip’s life as a wartime refugee. Photo: M+

A visitor takes a photo of artworks on display as part of the exhibition at M+. Photo: Dickson Lee

Mother and Son in the Rain (1932), by Fang Rending. Photo: M+

Flying in the Rain (1932), by Gao Jianfu. Photo: M+

Alan Yeung and Tina Pang are the curators of the exhibition. Photo: M+

And Thus Is This Land is a participatory performance by Dai Guangyu at the exhibition that invites professional artists and art students to collaborate on a recreation of This Land So Rich in Beauty (1959), by Fu Baoshi and Guan Shanyu. Photo: Dickson Lee

Artists take part in the And Thus Is This Land participatory performance at the exhibition. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong artist turns TCM items into fascinating works of art

Hong Kong artist So Wing-po sits with her artwork Polyglot: Mulberry (2023) at her solo exhibition at Blindspot Gallery in Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, on June 28, 2025. Photo: Edmond So

Sea Ear Hi-Hat (Take Turns) (2025), by So Wing-po, which repurposes the kinetic abalone shells from her 2020 work Sea Ear Hi Hat, is displayed at her current solo exhibition “Polyglot” at Blindspot Gallery. Photo: Edmond So

So Wing-po with her artwork “Polyglot: Mulberry” (2023), a large-scale installation that appears equal parts ecosystem, playground and science experiment. Photo: Edmond So

A work at So’s exhibition “Polyglot” at Blindspot Gallery. Photo: Edmond So

So with her artwork Magnolia Bud (2025) at her Polyglot exhibition. Photo: Edmond So

How lethal toxic pigments used in books for millennia created images to die for

19th century drawing by a preteen Flemish boy named Carel shows him sitting under a broken and dying tree, beset by a winged skeleton thrusting two arrows at his chest. Two grown men stand nearby, and one is pointing directly at the youth. The illustration is titled “Mors” or “death.” (Handout/The Walters Art Museum/TNS)

The Archangel Michael features in an illustration containing a toxic pigment in a book that forms part of an exhibit at The Walters Art Museum in the US. The exhibit looks at toxic pigments used for millennia to illustrate and bind books. Photo: The Walters Art Museum/TNS

If Books Could Kill is an exhibit that looks at toxic pigments used for millennia to illustrate and bind books. Photo: The Walters Art Museum/TNS

A page from a book in the exhibit. Photo: Instagram/thewaltersartmuseum

“Treatise on Elephants”, an illustration containing a toxic pigment, forms part of the exhibit. Photo: TNS

The drawing by Carel. The tree, the boy’s coat and the coat worn by the pointing man were all painted with deadly Paris green. Photo: The Walters Art Museum/TNS

Jaap van Zweden returns for Hong Kong Philharmonic concert featuring Augustin Hadelich

Jaap van Zweden (front right) conducts the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Augustin Hadelich (front left) at the orchestra’s season-closing concert on July 4. Photo: Desmond Chan/HK Phil

Jaap van Zweden conducts the Hong Kong Philharmonic in Hong Kong on July 4, 2025. Photo: Desmond Chan/HK Phil

Van Zweden returned as conductor emeritus for the concert. Photo: Desmond Chan/HK Phil

Tarmo Peltokoski will become music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2026/27 season. Photo: Peter Rigaud

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From a twist on The Phantom of the Opera to the Russian State Ballet’s Swan Lake, there’s plenty coming up in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan


From a twist on The Phantom of the Opera to the Russian State Ballet’s Swan Lake, there’s plenty coming up in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan.


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Greater Bay Area

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