Articles tagged with: Taipei
Jiping Zhao – Film Score Concert at Zhongshan Hall
Zhao Jiping is one of the best-known composers in China. Among his work are the film scores for several famous movies, such as Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell My Concubine. He’s known for his ability to combine traditional Chinese instruments and music with conventional western orchestral styles. On Saturday night, the Taipei City Chinese Orchestra performed some of his most famous pieces in a …
“Political Mother” at the National Theater in Taipei
Quite a few weeks ago, I treated myself to a ticket for a performance at the National Theater here in Taipei. I stuck the ticket to my refrigerator with a magnet and then sort of forgot about it. I knew I had the ticket and I had plans to go, but I didn’t remember much about what had jumped out at me about the performance. …
Newly Opened Xinzhuang MRT Line
A new MRT line opened up recently in Taipei. According to the brochure from Taipei Metro that I picked up, it is called the Xinzhuang Line. It’s orange in color on the MRT maps and currently has 13 stops. It starts at Zhongxiao Station on the blue line and ends at Fu Jen University. According to the map, it will be extended to at least …
TaipeiEYE – Picking Up the Jade Bracelet
The man at center stage was wearing a very colorful and elaborate costume. He stood there for a moment and then slowly raised one leg and pointed his foot at the audience like it was a kind of weapon. On his foot was a shoe with a three- or four-inch-thick white wooden platform. He grabbed his foot with one hand, twisted it to the side …
Scooter Mechanics in Taiwan Are Awesome
It’s a cliche, but it’s hard to believe that it is already January of 2012. I seem to have lost all track of time – years and months and even days. I was handed my pay slip by my company the other day, and I had no idea what it was. I didn’t even know it was pay day. I had this idea it was …
Midnight at the Theater
There are lots of ways to ring in the New Year. Most people go to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks in whatever city they happen to be in. It makes sense. I had plans to do that myself. I was going to hop on my bicycle and ride to the area around the Taipei 101 building. The fireworks were not actually the draw for …
Night at the Opera – Bluebeard’s Castle
The opera Bluebeard’s Castle by Hungarian composer Bela Bartok was performed at the National Theater in Taipei on Friday night. I had never been to the National Theater and, on impulse, I picked up a ticket for NT$800. My seat was off to the left in the balcony on the second floor. My experiences at Zhongshan Hall and the National Concert Hall led me to believe …
School Singing Contest in Taiwan
This video was shot two or three years ago, but it gives a pretty good taste of what a singing contest is like at a school here in Taipei. It opens with the teachers of the school doing a pretty impressive dance routine. Then we get various English classes (sometimes in full costume) singing songs in English. I was there as a guest judge and …