Arts & Stage

Get ready, Shanghai! The Asian premiere of the Broadway sensation "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" by Dave Malloy is finally here. Opening at New Bund 31 Theater on January 13, 2024, this show is a must-see. Hailed by The New York Times as the best new musical since "Hamilton," it's a theatrical masterpiece. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design and a nominee in 12 categories, this production offers a daringly modern twist on Tolstoy's "War and Peace." Its eclectic score blends indie rock, pop, folk, electronic dance, and classic Broadway. Experience this boundary-pushing spectacle in English, complete with Chinese subtitles, for a truly unforgettable theatrical journey.

The concert 'Reunion' invites acclaimed musical stars from the West End and Broadway to perform classic musical numbers in a concert format at the Shanghai Grand Theater. Starring: Ramin Calemro, who played the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Edition; Hadley Fraser, who played Raoul in the same commemorative performance; Samantha Barks, who played Eponine in the film version of Les Misérables; Earl Carpenter, who played Javert in the musical version of Les Misérables; Natalie May Paris, the original performer in the West End production of Six Queens, and Holly-Anne Hull, who played Christine in the West End production of Phantom of the Opera. For more details, check the program below. The show is from January 25 to 28. The performance is about 120 minutes long.

Opera, as a musical form that has been passed down for hundreds of years, perfectly combines classical music with vocals. From January 24 to 25 for two nights only, Alla Sokolovskaia, a Russian mezzo-soprano from the Association of International Professional Musicians in Italy, together with her husband, Russian pianist and composer Vitaliy Sokolovskiy, well-known bassist Zhu Donghuan from Shanghai, and young drummer Shen Wanghao, bring the crossover integration of jazz and opera at Jazz Lincoln Center. This show will feature many familiar world-class classics, such as Mozart's famous Rondo Alla Turca, the second of Frédéric François Chopin's famous Nocturne, Nocturne, Op. 9 No. 2, and more.

Harrison Wardley is a jazz double bass musician from Australia. He graduated from Monash University in Melbourne and has studied and collaborated with international jazz masters such as Aaron Goldberg, George Garzone, Ben Allison, and Jean-Michel Pilc. From 2017 to 2022 while in Chengdu, he served as a part-time professor teaching at the Jazz Department of Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He is proficient in performing various styles of jazz music and has participated in bands such as JaHaLa (w/ Lv Yan), Noah Hocker, Liang Ying Trio, Alec Haavik, The V.A.C Project, etc. He regularly performs at major jazz bars and music festivals, such as the Guangzhou Jazz Festival, the Changchun Jazz Festival, Riverside Jazz Club, JZ Club, Smoke, and Lincoln Jazz Shanghai Center.

The Pearl's new show is inspired by the 2017 film, and the Barnum & Bailey Circus, "The Greatest Showman." Join their Ringmaster as he searches for incredible talent to be featured in his extraordinary circus. Will he finally achieve his goals to produce a show-stopping event? Will he find an investor to save his project and keep his family from living on the streets? Will he ever find his missing lion and elephant? Make your way to The Pearl and discover what it means to truly walk the tightrope of life and rewrite the stars to fulfill your destiny.

Live Music

A pretty hefty lineup at Yuyintang this Thursday, featuring a trio of emerging acts to keep your eye on in 2024. This includes Shanghai's Yepusa, who have built quite the fanbase themselves while honing their eclectic collection of songs that touch on everything from tender noise punk to nimble post-punk. Joining them are electrified dream pop act Silhouette from Nanjing, whose sound is colored in retro synths, and Future Technology Institute, offering up buoyant synth-flavored new wave rock that plays it both sweet and sour. The show starts at 8:30 PM and tickets are priced at RMB 88/108/158.

Two steadfast Beijing bands with a knack for crafting delectable electro-pop - Residence A and The Diagon Alley - head for Mao Livehouse tonight. Beloved for their catchy, melodic, and often life-affirming anthems, Residence A has been going strong for well over a decade. They're fresh off a brand new LP that showcases their synthier, more retro pop sensibilities. Meanwhile, The Diagon Alley (yes, that's a Harry Potter reference) taps into something more fanciful and saccharine, injecting their sound with wavering synths and Britpop-laced melodies. The show starts at 8 PM, and tickets are priced at RMB 120/150/220.

Trigger - the safe haven for China's vast and unapologetic experimental and noise scene - teams up with Shanghai's premier metal bar CAVE for a delirious afternoon of noise, death metal, and general mayhem (the Noise Gallagher poster gives a pretty good indication of what's to come). Acts include plenty of trigger regulars, including Torturing Nurse, Shu Qi, and the noisecore duo RHYTHMICSHIT. Also on hand is the doomsday trash opera troupe COW AGE, and most surprisingly, Shanghai death metal outfit HOLOKASTRIAL, surely making good use of the tight space. Last but not least, there will be a screening of the Norwegian documentary "Det Svarte Alvor," about the Nordic black metal scene. Rad as all hell. The event starts at 2 PM, and tickets are priced at RMB 65.

An electrifying jolt of post-punk, no-wave, and psychedelic rock - tonight LiveChinaMusic invites three acts that might just give you a new lease on life. On the docket, you've got Ningbo's der Berliner Nebel 柏林的雾 - who pogo from horn-infused proto-punk to simmering 80s-synth-loving new wave with reckless abandon and sly conviction. Joining them are art rockers Double Speed Timing - a ramshackle swirl of post-punk, psych rock, cold, and no wave - and Shanghai's WeatherKing - who bring simmering intensity to their indie psych rock. The show starts at 8:30 PM, and tickets are priced at RMB 80/100/140.

Clubbing

MET is a music festival that showcases underground and experimental electronic music in Shanghai. It features local and international DJs and producers who play genres such as Deep House, techno, afrobeat, and more. On Friday at Celia, the festival showcases Xia Ke, a producer and DJ who specializes in ethnic, organic, and chill music. He combines elements of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern sounds with electronic beats and ambient atmospheres. Saturday features DJ Wordy, a turntablist and DJ who excels in scratching, mixing, and cutting. He is one of China's earliest and most successful turntable masters and tends to play a variety of genres, such as hip-hop, funk, soul, reggae, and electronic.

Shanghai's Charity SsB - whose emotionally charged melodies are coated in everything from hard-hitting drill, tipsy trap stylings, and sugar-coated vaporwave pop - isn't slowing down in 2024. Fresh off his much-hyped solo release 'SsB pt.1 THE ANCIENT WAR', the multi-talented artist, rapper, and producer is back with a new EP entitled 'Late Night'. To celebrate, he'll be inviting a slew of alternative rappers like thomeboydontkill and TOYOKI (of the crew Digi Ghetto) as well as DJs like Tome Yeti, Kilo-Vee, and more. For anyone curious about the rap scene in China, highly recommend it. The event starts at 10 PM, and tickets are priced at RMB 100/120/168.

This Saturday, SYSTEM invites you to experience the sound of Samuel Kerridge, a British producer who has been subverting techno for over a decade. Inspired by industrial music, metal, and post-punk, Kerridge creates a sonic exploration of tension and noise that defies conventions. Expect a hybrid live DJ set that dismantles hundreds of tracks into a sampler to make new music in real time.

This Saturday, fRUITYSHOP presents a special night of groove music featuring the legendary DJ and turntablist, Mr. Thing, who has been spinning records since 1987 and has won numerous awards and accolades for his impeccable skills and taste. He will be joined by some fine vinyl DJs in China, including DADA, KaleidoJazzlegs, B.C.K, and DJ Danzel, who will showcase their diverse and infectious selections of funk, soul, reggae, Afro, Latin, bruk, and more. Expect a night of pure vinyl bliss, as these DJs dig deep into their crates and share their passion for urban music and culture.

Yubik, a German DJ and producer, has been subverting techno for over a decade. He is known for his unique blend of deep house, techno, and progressive sounds, creating immersive and emotional journeys for his listeners. He has released tracks on labels such as Afterlife, Stil vor Talent, and Radikon, and has performed at festivals and clubs around the world. He has also been featured on Electronic Groove, where he shared 10 tracks that inspire his studio work. Some of the artists that influenced him are Alex Smoke, Black Merlin, Trikk, and Agoria. Yubik’s music is cabalistic and groovy at the same time, as he effortlessly crosses borders and explores new turf.

The "Medieval Soiree" held at BU Club on the Bund will be a night of unparalleled celebration across three stages, each boasting a unique musical journey curated by six renowned DJs and a live band. The fusion of medieval mystique and modern beats can help you dance beneath the chandeliers. The party starts at 9pm and goes until late on January 27. All tickets include a drink.

The Shanghai EDITION presents a party at the stage of Electric Circus on January 27 from 10pm until late. The lineup features local DJs Gaga & Shelby. Presale tickets are 258 RMB, including admittance and free flow of selected spirits. Ladies can enter for free. During the party, a buy-one-get-one-free deal is also available for Perrier-Jouët Brut Champagne.

Community

BritCham Shanghai invites members and friends to join them for a social networking event on Burns Night, January 25! The evening will be structured to combine the best of a Scottish Connections networking event, capturing the spirit of the great Scottish poet and lyricist, Robert Burns. Enjoy an evening with haggis, poems, laughter, and much more. Dress code: Smart casual, kilt, or a touch of tartan.

Gear up, robot fans! Concordia is hosting the epic International Schools VEX Robotics Competition: Over Under 2023-2024 on January 27th. Teams from nine international schools across China will square off for a chance to take the crown, including our very own Concordia High School VEX Robotics Club – last year's alliance champions! The competition starts at 9:00am in Concordia's Phoenix Center gym. Parents and students are welcome to come and cheer on these brilliant young minds. Come witness the future of robotics in action!