What's New
Weiwuying Welcomes the Public's "Return to Camp" with 51 Events, 90 Shows. First Wave of Tickets Sales Starts on July 3rd, Early Birds Get 25% Off.
The National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), saved its strength during the pandemic. Now, Weiwuying returns, fully charged, with a rich program for the second half of 2020. Fifty-one events, ninety shows, have been curated in preparation for the public's return to Weiwuying.
CHIEN Wen-pin, executive office general and artistic director of Weiwuying, explained, "One of the concepts of "Nessun dorma" from Turandot is rebirth (rinasce). By opening the second half of 2020 with Turandot, we hope that venues, the performing arts industry, and the entire society can embrace life anew following the pandemic. The program for the second half of 2020 include but not limited to the hopeful, hot-blooded, and passionate international flagship production of Turandot; Kaohsiung Local Hi series; Taiwan Dance Platform; Circus Platform; and Weiwuying Annual Celebration 2.0.
CHIEN continued, "Let the gloom of the first half of 2020 be washed away by art's power. Weiwuying continued to support artists and their work during the pandemic, and where their efforts blossom. We will continue to execute preventive measures in the venues and invite everyone' back to camp' and together experience the magic of live performances."
On July 3rd (Fri), the first wave of member-exclusive early bird ticket sales will go online. Last year, when Weiwuying and Deutsche Oper am Rhein's international co-production Turandot performed four sold-out shows in Weiwuying, and received wide acclaim. Turandot is the first opera to be produced by a European company with an all-Taiwanese artistic team: Renowned theater director, LI Huan-hsiung; set designer, LIANG Jo-shan; new media designer, WANG Jun-jieh; costume designer, LAI Hsuan-wu; allows Turandot to depart from the conventional Western interpretation and breathed new life to the Puccini classic. Since 2015, this rendition has been performed 26 times in Europe. LAI Hsuan-wu created a distinctive style that earned him the reputation of "the Eastern Lagerfeld."
The first wave of shows available for purchase includes many world-class musical performances and drama. An Event of Nanguan Butterflies in Love with Flowers with WANG Xinxin, featuring the works of five famous poets of the Sung dynasty, and WANG's rendition go traditional music; Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì–Puccini Gala
by LIN Ling-hui and her Friends, presenting the classic Puccini arias. LÜ & Thomas HAMPSON & NSO, performing Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mahler, and more. Albert Xu X NSO X Weiwuying, the audience will explore with Albert XU, master of architectural acoustics, the mysteries of the Weiwuying's vineyard-style Concert Hall. Anatol UGORSKI Piano Recital, UGORSKI returns to Weiwuying, preparing to amaze the audience with classic Chopin. Creative Society Theatre Group's Crystal Boys, six years after its previous production, the 2020 version brings in new blood and looks to deliver a brand new take and style.
Weiwuying Annual Celebration 2.0 includes Sounding Light by CHENG Tsung-lung, Questioning Heaven
A Bangzi Opera Adaptation of King Lear, which will be National Award for Arts recipient WANG Hai-ling's final performance as "female Lear." Thierry ESCAICH Organ Recital, besides performing Bach and Messiaen, ESCAICH will also give an improvised performance. CCHIEN Wen-pin & Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra. Rhapsody of Free Reed–CHIEN Wen-pin & Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra, which will be CHIEN's first collaboration with Kaohsiung City Orchestra; Camino de Sangjaru, Korean Gypsy Sangjaru, winner of the 2019 Jeonju International Sori Festival, share their inspiration from walking the Camino de Santiago.
The second wave of early bird ticket sales launches on September 4th. This year, the bi-annual Taiwan Dance Platform will feature B.DANCE's Floating Flowers; Massala Dance Company's 'NÄSS (People)'; and 'Dance Together' Triple Bill (Heart to Heart by Tjimur Dance Theatre Varhung~; Ice Age (work in progress) by Resident Island Dance Theatre; and Yu SHIMOMURA's Defection for beginners: The country of DREAMS); Dance Forum Taipei's Second Landscape, celebrating the company's 30th anniversary, the performance explores the relationship between media and society; Legend Lin Dance Theatre's Anthem to the Fading Flowers, a picturesque and poetic depiction of the four seasons.
Also included in the second wave are performances featured in the Circus Platform and two renowned Taiwanese opera companies. Formosa Circus Art's Moss tries to break the mold and discover the meaning behind physical movements. Humanoptère by La Main de l' Homme Humanoptère, a micro-society formed by seven jugglers, reflecting upon the concept and definition of "work." Songs of Authentic Voice— Unplugged Taiwanese Opera Concert, experience pure vocal performances, and accompaniment of Taiwanese opera without sound systems. Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group brings the legend of Five Royal Lords on stage with The Khun Island.
The third wave of early bird ticket sales starts on October 8th. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents Discovering the Chamber Music 2 & 3. Yunshuyachi Ensemble's Re-make in Asia, three musicians from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, present the artistry of traditional instruments from a contemporary perspective. The Bear & Peter and the Wolf Live in Concert, a concert suitable for the family. Alexei VOLODIN ╳ Evergreen Symphony Orchestra- RACHMANINOFF's Night, renowned Russian pianist Alexei VOLODIN and Evergreen Symphony Orchestra will interpret the works of Rachmaninoff and Glinka.
Kaohsiung Local Hi series. Rimini Protokoll's 100% City series featured in 36 cities worldwide. Upon invitation, Rimini Protokoll brought the series to Taiwan for the first time and created 100% Kaohsiung. The Apocalypse of Fudingjin, adapted from Hsieh Hsin-yu's novel set in Kaohsiung's Fudingjin Public Cemetery, Secrets Stolen by Five Ghost Children, invites the audience on a journey through turbulent yet magical lives. Guo Guang Opera Company's Journey through Hell, starring Tang Wen-hua, revived on the stages of Weiwuying after a decade.
During the program announcement, executive office general and artistic director CHIEN Wen-pin officially introduced the Weiwuying Artist-In-Residence project. "National venues need to stay connected with their cities, and international productions need to be rooted. The term "in residence" is a promise that artists will create a strong bond between art and life, theater and society." CHIEN also announced that CHOU Shu-yi as the first resident artist. "In his past performances and efforts, Shu-yi fully displayed his interest in public art and interdisciplinary collaboration. I am honored to invite Shu-yi to become Weiwuying's first resident artist. I believe his observation and creation will accentuate the importance of Weiwuying's contribution to promoting public art and cultural equality.
Choreographer Chou Shu-yi said: "Thank you, artistic director CHIEN, for inviting me. It feels like I'm being drafted into the army. My relationship with Weiwuying began ten years ago. The center still under construction back then. The dancers and I came to Banyan Orchard to promote dance. Little did I know, this center will become a platform that connects art to life and the world. In our everyday life, we notice that dance is not that sacred. Most of our recent creations are set outdoors. As resident artist of Weiwuying, I wish to stay on this path and bring dance to communities and audience to theaters."
For the second half of the year, Weiwuying launched a stimulus package allowing the public more affordable access to shows. From July 15th to December 31st, the guided tour for two will be priced at NT$200 (originally NT$300). Any purchase in the venues over NT$200 can redeem 15% discount coupon for all Weiwuying produced program (the coupon not applicable with other discounts, to cheapest tickets, and Weiwuying Showtime). Purchases made in the seven stores with stimulus vouchers can win a minimum 35% to maximum NT$1000 discount (discounts and payment methods follow the official announcement of stores and venues). For more information regarding the program and discounts, please visit Weiwuying's official website (www.npac-weiwuying.org).