Beijing

Dragons make sweet sounds

Dragon Quartet, a new group founded by four Chinese classical music stars, will perform in Beijing as part of their 2013 tour. The four members of the quartet are violinist Ning Feng, violinist Gu Chen, violist Jin Zhenhong and cellist Qin Liwei. The quartet will perform works by Borodin, Shostakovich and Romberg, as well as Lake Manasarovar, a work composed by Ye Xiaogang especially for the Dragon Quartet. The concert will be part of the May Music Festival of the National Center for the Performing Arts.

7:30 pm, May 12. Multi-functional Theater, National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

Creative spring

China National School of Administration is presenting Charming Spring - Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition. Co-hosted by Cultural Committee of China Administrative Reform Board and Xu Beihong Academy of Renmin University of China, the exhibition features Chinese calligraphy and painting works from institutions and organizations such as the Central Party School and Poverty Alleviation Office of the State Council.

9 am-5 pm, until May 13. China National School of Administration, 6 Changchunqiao Road, Haidian district, Beijing. 010-6892-9260.

Anniversary performances

The Song and Dance Company of the Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army will present a series of shows to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Most of its popular artists, including Dong Wenhua, Yan Weiwen, Cai Guoqing, Wang Hongwei and Tan Jing, will participate in the shows. Founded in 1953 in Beijing, the art company includes an orchestra, chorus, dance troupe and an opera troupe.

Choir: Song under the Army Flag on May 13 and 14; Symphonic concert: Our Age on May 15; Song and dance show: In the Name of Youth on May 21 and 22; Dance drama: Railroad Guerrilla on May 29 and 30; Gala show: Classics on June 1 and 2.

7:30 pm. National Center for the Performing Arts, No 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

Emotional dance

[Photo/China Daily]

The National Ballet of China is reviving The Rite of Spring to commemorate its 100th birthday on the stage of National Center for the Performance Arts through May 11. Wang Xinpeng is the choreographer for the anniversary dance. He said the version will show the emotional hopes and longings for a better future.

7:30 pm, until May 11. National Center for the Performance Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.

Zhao takes his love songs live

Chinese bass singer Zhao Peng's 13 CDs are well-known among lovers of high-fidelity recordings, but there have been few opportunities to see him live. Now Zhao will give his debut concert in Beijing, which is titled The Radio Love Songs of Zhao Peng. Beijing radio DJ Luo Bing will host the concert. Zhao will perform with a five-piece unplugged band that consists of piano, guitar, bass, drum and saxophone. The program will be mainly classic pop songs, like Boat Song and Forgotten Time.

7:30 pm, May 19. Poly Theater, 14 Dongzhimen South Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6500-1188.

Modern take on Chinese drama

Hero of the Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions, Jia Baoyu, is one of the best-known names in China. But a Jia played by an actress in modern dress may make the character unfamiliar to many audiences. Directed by Hong Kong director Edward Lam, Awakening will feature Hong Kong singer and actress Denise Ho as Jia, in an all-woman cast. The ancient red mansion has been replaced with an iron and cement warehouse. Jia resembles Peter Pan, with a white cape and leather boots.

7:30 pm, until May 12. Poly Theater, 14 Dongzhimen South Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6500-1188.

Artist couple hold retrospective

[Photo/China Daily]

With a joint career spanning nearly five decades, artist couple Yang Lizhou and Wang Yingchun, both 70, have developed a vigorous, solemn and sublime style in their large joint paintings with historical themes. They have also produced work independent of each other. Yang embraces a strong sentiment for homeland in his work, while his wife, Wang, expresses compassionate feelings for humankind. Yang employs the elements of Expressionism and three-dimensional structure in his Chinese paintings of "xieyi", or freehand style; and Wang has experimented with various texture strokes in ink-and-water painting.

9 am-5 pm, no admission after 4 pm, until May 14. National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.