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SHOW

Broadway Musical Man of La Mancha

Date: Dec 26-Jan 1－7:15 pm

Venue: People Grand Theater, Shanghai

Price: 180-880 yuan

Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It tells the story of the "mad" knight, Don Quixote, as a play within a play, performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. The work is not, and does not pretend to be, a faithful rendition of either Cervantes' life or of Don Quixote. Wasserman complained repeatedly about taking the work as a musical version of Don Quixote.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Dance Ballet－The Fire of Anatolia in Beijing

Date: Dec 26-30－7:30 pm

Venue: Mei Lanfang Grand Theater

Price: 280-1,280 yuan

A synthesis of hundreds of folk dances and music from different regions, Fire of Anatolia is a unique project whose source is Anatolia's ancient mythological and cultural history. Produced by Mustafa Erdogan, the group hopes to introduce the world to the fire that arises from the ancient Anatolian mosaic of love, cultural history and peace. Fire of Anatolia, which is regarded as one of the world's best dance groups, thanks to countless international tours, has taken great steps in realizing this goal. In 1999 Mustafa Erdogan started work intensively on the project then known as Sultans of the Dance. Audition announcements were placed in newspapers and 90 talented young dancers were selected from 750 applicants to begin work immediately. The company generally rehearsed eight hours a day, but up to 16 hours. Costumes were created and music was composed. Dancers took theoretical instruction on the notation of Anatolian rhythms. The group worked night and day under the supervision of dieticians, estheticians, exercise and massage specialists. Folk dances, ballet and modern dance were the center of training, and stretching and yoga were also incorporated. This first period of creation lasted a year and a half. The show was scheduled to tour abroad after just a few performances in Turkey. After selling out months in advance, however, it was decided to stay longer in the country. Starting its first world tour in 2002, Fire of Anatolia has met art-lovers in numerous countries around the world. Fire of Anatolia, rich with culture and the magic of dance, became the first dance group to perform in China's parliament building. The group has also performed for an audience of 400,000, all standing, in Eregli, near the Black Sea, and holds the title for 'Largest Audience' in the Guinness Book of World Records because of it. Fire of Anatolia was also the first group to perform in the Bodrum Antique Theatre after 2300 years.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Hollywood Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert

Date: Dec 26－8 pm

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall

Price: 180-880 yuan

The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is a 75-member American symphony orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. Its artistic director and resident conductor is John Scott. The HSO is dedicated to performing classic and world premiere movie scores, and comprises recording musicians from the Hollywood movie studios and the Los Angeles concert scene. Many of the musicians' names appear in the original recording liner notes of the movie scores presented on stage. Concerts often include a large massed choir from the Los Angeles area, bringing the population on stage to as many as 140 instrumentalists and singers. The performance will include musical pieces from famous Hollywood movies including Superman, Sound of Music and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Contact: 400-610-3721

War Horse in Shanghai

Date: Dec 26-Jan 17－7:15 pm

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Price: 80-880 yuan

War Horse is a play based on the book of the same name by children's writer Michael Morpurgo, adapted for stage by Nick Stafford. The play's West End and Broadway productions are directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris; it features life-size horse puppets by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa, with "horse choreography" by Toby Sedgwick. The Guardian's Michael Billington wrote in his review: Elliott and Morris recreate the kaleidoscopic horror of war through bold imagery, including the remorseless advance of a manually operated tank, and through the line-drawings of Rae Smith projected on to a suspended screen. Admittedly the performers are somewhat eclipsed by the action... The joy of the evening, however, lies in the skilled recreation of equine life and in its unshaken belief that mankind is ennobled by its love of the horse.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Christoph Eschenbach and Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra

Date: Dec 31－7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Price: 180-1,280 yuan

Christoph Eschenbach, a world-renowned conductor, is one of the most popular music maestros in the contemporary international musical circle. He is a pianist enjoying high reputation before he became a conductor. He has collaborated with almost every top symphony orchestra in the world, and was granted The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and Leonard Bernstein Award in succession for his great achievements. Maestro Eschenbach is also a productive recording artist: he has made 65 records including the works of Bach, Brahms, Berlioz, Grieg, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Messiaen, Saint-Saens, Schuman, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky. As a promoter of contemporary music, he has also recorded the works of some contemporary composers, such as Berg, Webern, Schoenberg, Schnittke, Lourie, Pecour, Ruth, Glass, Adams, Pintscher and more. Tzimon Barto is an American classical pianist. He is also a bodybuilder, novelist, poet, philosopher and speaks seven languages. He is best known for his work with Christoph Eschenbach of the National Symphony Orchestra, who discovered Barto in 1988.