Caribbean, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

-willow

Farewell my Concubine, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:00 PM
Avery Fisher Hall

(Please let me know, if you need tickets.)]]>

The Chinese American Inter-Cultural Exchange Foundation (CAIEF) proudly presents the U.S. debut of the new opera, “Farewell My Concubine.” Performed as an opera concert by the China National Opera House, “Farewell My Concubine” is a newly “westernized” version of a much beloved Chinese story. The opera is presented in the traditional Western or Italian style, but sung in Mandarin with English subtitles.



The world premiere of “Farewell My Concubine” was held on Oct. 12, 2007 in Beijing. This U.S. tour marks the first time this music has been heard outside China.



Based on real events and characters from China’s rich history, “Farewell My Concubine” is set at the end of Qin dynasty and tells the story of Xiang Yu, the self-styled "Overlord of Western Chu," who is locked in battle with General Han Xin, who would later become the ruler of the Han people. These two men would decide the fate of China.



Xiang Yu is an expert when it comes to military power, but his dwindling troops are no match against Han Xin’s massive reinforcements.



Sensing defeat, Xiang Yu sends for his favorite concubine, Yu Li. He tries to send her away from the battlefields to some place safe. But she refuses to go. The two begin to reminisce of happier times in their native homeland. And as the two lovers bid a final farewell, Yu Li takes her beloved’s sword and commits suicide. She would rather die at his feet than leave her lover. Xiang Yu buries his beloved in the snow. Then he bows to the east to bid goodbye to his countrymen. Eight thousand troops had followed him into war – and almost all had died on the battlefield. Xiang Yu had lost face. He had lost all reason to live in this world. He had fought valiantly for his country and for his beliefs without compromising his dignity. Now there was only one course of action left.

He draws his sword and kills himself.



This is a classic Chinese tale of passion, valor and patriotism.



“Farewell My Concubine” is a much beloved story in China that has been told through traditional Beijing opera, books, plays and even a movie or two. For the past 18 years renowned Chinese composer Xiao Bai and famed librettist Wang Jian have worked to rewrite, re-score and re-stage this opera in the Western style.



Xiao Bai, 75, said it has been his dream to see his opera performed on stage. “For years I have conducted Western operas in China. The Chinese people have such a deep love of opera. I wanted China to have a world-class opera of its own. So this opera became my dream. Now I want to share this story with the rest of the world.”



Emily Kuo Vong is president of the Chinese American Inter-Cultural Exchange Foundation and producer of this opera. Ms. Vong, who was born in Shanghai, is a Dallas, Texas businesswoman. She has always had a deep appreciation of the arts, particularly music. As a youngster in China, Ms. Vong wrote a series of children’s songs that became very popular.



Xiao Bai and Emily Kuo Vong met 10 years ago, and he quickly became her mentor.



“His dream became my dream,” says Ms. Vong.



Growing up in China and now living in the United States has given Ms. Vong a unique perspective of both countries. She has always felt there was a lack of cultural understanding between the two countries.



In 2007 she created the Chinese American Inter-Cultural Exchange Foundation, a non-profit arts organization to facilitate cross-cultural programming between the U.S. and China.



“Culture knows no geographic, political or racial boundaries,” says Ms. Vong. “I believe that learning more about each other’s culture can only lead to better understanding and tolerance between our two great nations.”



The U.S. tour of “Farewell My Concubine” includes:





War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, Jan. 11, 12 and 13



The Pasadena Civic, Pasadena, Ca., Jan 19, 20



DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. Jan. 25 *



Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, New York, Jan. 27 *



Cullen Theater in the Wortham Center, Houston, Jan 30, 31 *



Eisemann Center, Dallas, Feb. 5, 6

New Year at Union Square, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

This picture was taken from the 2nd FL of DSW building on Union Square. They have great view of Union Square. I actually set on the floor by the window and enjoyed the view. And I also noticed that I was not the only person doing that. So if you are the owner of DSW and I highly recommend you re-organized the store, and may be you can open up a cafe? It would be awesome.

I am not an expert on piano, don't even know how to play, but having the chance to listen to the two Giants talking about the experience, questions of performing Beethoven, is such an pleasant experience. Emanuel Ax successfully visualized the language of piano. He talked about the balance of architecture, the technique of changing tempo, and the accurate arrangement of the whole score, which was really easy to understand and completely enlightening. It is like being a child again and enjoy the wisdom of the senior, what a bliss and luxury.

And I noticed the Emanuel Ax's resemblance to Jack Nicholson, one of the actors that I like, especially the way he talks.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard performs throughout the world each season with major orchestras under conductors including Pierre Boulez, Christoph von Dohnányi, Christoph Eschenbach, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Simon Rattle, David Robertson, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Franz Welser-Möst. During the 2006–07 season he curated and performed in his own “Perspectives” series at Carnegie Hall, and a “carte blanche” at the Vienna Konzerthaus, and was pianist-in-residence with the Berlin Philharmonic.

In the 2007–08 season Mr. Aimard is artistic director of the Messiaen Festival at Southbank Centre, London, and artist-in-residence at both the Salzburg Mozarteum and The Cleveland Orchestra. The Cité de la Musique in Paris has invited him to curate a “Domaine privé,” and he continues as artistic partner with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Aimard holds professorships in Cologne and Paris, and gives concert lectures and workshops worldwide. He was the recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist Award in spring 2005.

Born in Lyon, France, in 1957, Pierre-Laurent Aimard studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Yvonne Loriod, and in London with Maria Curcio. Early career landmarks included first prize in the 1973 Messiaen Competition, and an appointment at age 19 by Pierre Boulez to become the Ensemble InterContemporain’s first solo pianist. For more than 15 years Mr. Aimard collaborated closely with György Ligeti, recording his complete works.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard has been honored with ECHO Classic Awards in both 2003 and 2004. His recording of Ives’s Concord Sonata and songs with mezzo-soprano Susan Graham was a Grammy Award winner in 2005. Recent releases include discs of music by Ravel and Elliott Carter, Schumann, and Mozart piano concertos with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, which he directed from the keyboard. In August 2007 he signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. His first disc under this agreement, Bach: Art of Fugue, is due for release in spring 2008. Mr. Aimard last appeared with the New York Philharmonic in June 2006, performing Elliott Carter’s Dialogues for Piano and Chamber Orchestra and Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, led by Lorin Maazel.

Emanuel Ax

Emanuel Ax Pianist Emanuel Ax captured public attention in 1974 when, at age 25, he won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition, in Tel Aviv. In 1975 he won the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists and, four years later, took the coveted Avery Fisher Prize.

In the 2006–07 season, as an “On Location” artist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he will contribute to a series of chamber and orchestral programs centered around Mozart and Strauss works. With his wife, pianist Yoko Nozaki, a project with the Mark Morris Dance Company, originally presented at New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival in the summer of 2006, will be repeated in Vienna and London in 2007. Tours will include a series of West Coast performances of Mozart concertos with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; Florida appearances with the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Robert Spano, a 10-city recital tour; duo recitals with bassist Edgar Meyer in spring 2007; and concerts in Japan with his long-standing colleague and partner, cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Mr. Ax last appeared with the New York Philharmonic earlier this season, on the Orchestra’s Opening Night, September 13, 2006, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat major, K.316a, with Yefim Bronfman.

Pausch has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and was told in August 2007 to expect a remaining three to six months of good health. Pausch delivered his "Last Public Lecture", entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", at CMU on September 18, 2007. This talk was modeled after an ongoing series of lectures where top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical "final talk", i.e., "what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?"
-- wikipedia

TianYe's wedding invitation, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

It is the COOL-EST invitation that I have ever received. (Well, and the very first invitation) Happy marriage -- Tian Ye!

Hi Amanda,

I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released fourth edition of our Schmap Brussels Guide:

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If you like the guide and have a website, blog or personal page, then please also check out our schmapplets - customizable widgetized versions of our Schmap Brussels Guide, complete with your published photo:

Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please enjoy the guide!

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Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

IMG00012.jpg, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

-willow

Nominee, Guo Jiaming, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

Chinese actor Guo Jiaming was nominated the Best Performance by an Actor at the 35th International Emmy Award. Here is the report from SINA.com.cn

Qart, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

Q Art is pleased to announce Intimate Distance, a photography exhibition featuring nearly fifty photographs by nine photographers of the Chinese diaspora in the United States. Young, well-traveled, globally-minded, confident and eloquent… these photographers are distinct from artists of the Social Realism, Kitsch and Pop generations. Individual experience and emotion are the focal points of their artistic creation. While the dual experience of residing in both China and the U.S. underlies the nostalgic melancholy in their works, the refinement of both eastern and western art and literature allows the photographers to engage with a wide range of subjects and employ very different techniques and styles, which are interwoven into the unique richness and sophistication of these photographs.

The physical distance from the home country and the submerged emotional disconnect with the host country often put these photographers in a mood resembling nomads or voyagers. The subdued sense of solitude and strangeness slips through the empty yet stunningly beautiful urban landscape devoid of human presence.

On the other hand, the seeming detachment provides the photographers with a point of entry into their intimate memories and accentuates a stronger personal presence. The close proximity between the photographer and the subject and the conscious aesthetic decisions made by the photographer place the photographer at great intimacy with both the subject and the viewer.

The voyage between distance and intimacy, the past and the present, and here and elsewhere brings us the splendid visual poetics of this exhibition.

Q Art’s temporary location is at 64 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Exhibition hours are Monday through Sunday, 12 pm to 6 pm. For more information, please call 646.643.1532, or 617.306.3209, visit www.qartspace.com, or email: qart.info@gmail.com.

IMG00006.jpg, originally uploaded by willowyangcn.

-willow

ACAF NY will be New York's first Asian Contemporary Art Fair.

ACAF debuts November 8-12, 2007 at Pier 92 with new works by a front line of contemporary masters and a fascinating selection of work in varied media by emerging artists who are setting tomorrow's trends. ACAF brings to New York a vibrant, international art market, attractive to experienced collectors but accessible to those new to contemporary Asian art. ACAF will arrange special opportunities for dialogue and learning, and will become a point of convergence where some of the most respected dealers of contemporary Asian art will engage collectors and the general public.

A prime objective of ACAF NY will be to enrich knowledge and enhance familiarity with contemporary Asian art. To that end, a guest-curated exhibition will feature works that highlight salient issues and significant trends. A series of lectures led by renowned curators, dealers, and scholars will add perspective to appreciating and collecting contemporary Asian art and will cultivate a scholarly forum on current topics.

ACAF NY will open with a gala event and preview prior to the public opening at Pier 92 in Manhattan.

ACAF NY will place selected exhibitors in a prime location supported by targeted promotion and special opportunities to connect with new clients and to present their artists to an international market.

The fair will offer a professional environment:

· 80 exhibitors from over 10 countries
· Large booths
· Extensive marketing campaign
· Daily press briefings
· Cultural and educational programs designed to complement the fair
· Special exhibition
· Scholarly lecture series
· Expert collecting advice
· VIP lounge
· International art publications
· Cafe and guest lounge

Western collectors have become increasingly curious and enthusiastic about Asian art; recent contemporary art fairs and auctions have been avidly attended and enormously successful. ACAF NY is timed to introduce a select group of dealers to both sophisticated collectors and a large and interested public. You will want to be there.