The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh

The final film showing of the summer for the Burrell`s China Season 2010, will take place on Sunday 12th Sept at 2pm in the Lecture Theatre at the Burrell.

`Spring in a Small Town` (1948, 85 min) depicts the love triangle of Yuwen, her ailing husband Dai Liyan, and doctor Zhang Zhichen in a small war-torn town in the South of Yangtze River after WWII. Between Yuwen and Liyan, there is only duty and concern, but no love, as they silently and politely pass the days in the ruined manor that hints of the Dai family`s previous wealth and prestige. Their monotonous lives are suddenly changed by the arrival of Liyan`s friend and Yuwen`s former love Zhichen….

In 2005, a panel of 101 filmmakers and scholars cast their votes to select the Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures of all time. The film that topped the list was Fei Mu`s 1948 classic melodrama `Spring in a Small Town`. Fei Mu was a pioneering figure of the Chinese film industry during the 1930s and 40s with films like Song of China (1935) and Remorse at Death (1948), China`s first colour film.

Back by popular demand, Harmony Chinese Music Ensemble, will once again give a concert in the atmospheric Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh`s Royal Mile.

With a number of recently composed pieces plus special arrangements of folk and modern songs this year`s Fringe Festival performance should prove as popular as in previous years. Enjoy this Chinese music display - traditional, new and improvised, with the fascinating voice of Fong Liu. Full array of percussion, bamboo flute, ruan (moon guitar), zheng (plucked zither), yangqin (hammered dulcimer) and fiddle.

Tickets: £10 (£6)
Date: Saturday 28 August 2010
Start time: 7.30pmwww.edfringe.com
Tickets are available on from www.edfringe.com or can be bought on the door.

As part of the Burrell`s China Season 2010, there will be a free monthly Chinese film shown in the Burrell Theatre at 2pm over summer 2010.

Next month`s film is `Snow in August` which will introduced by Dr Yupin Chung, Curator of Chinese and Far Eastern Civilisations will be shown on Sunday 8th August at 2pm.

`Snow in August` (2002, 120 min) from Gao Xingjian, a winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Literature, comes a “major drama about life.” This is a special screening of Gao’s contemporary opera.

It is based on the life of Huineng (AD 633-713), the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in Tang Dynasty China. Packed with the myriad sights and sounds of both the Eastern and Western theatrical traditions, the play exudes wonder and mysticism. The many koan cases and the story of Huineng`s enlightenment afford the audience fascinating vignettes of Gao`s vision of life and existence—an awareness of the void and the need for a personal peace with oneself.

The Burrell Gallery is set in the heart of Pollock Country Park a beautiful woodland setting. In addition to work by major artists such as Rodin, Degas and Cézanne, the Gallery also has important examples of late medieval art, Chinese and Islamic art, Ancient Civilizations and more.

For more information
Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G43 1AT
Tel: 0141 287 2550
Email: museums@glasgowlife.org.uk

Take advantage of the half price preview shows offered on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th of August to ensure you are one of the first to discover the incredible polyphonic music from Guizhou province. The New York Times described their singing as `Multifarious and splendid music making ...to brilliant and amusing effect.’

Guizhou Ethnic Arts Ensemble will appear from 5-23 August (not 8,11,18) in a lunchtime show in Fringe venue no 7, the New Town Theatre, George Street. Read all about them, hear their music, see some of the dancing on our microsite.

The Glasgow Branch of the Scotland China Association will host an illustrated talk by Mary McNulty about her journey to Southwest China in 2007 when she visited minority areas populated by Dong people.

Cultural differences can be seen through the variance of local materials and embroidery.

After the talk there will be a Chinese meal to which all members are welcome to attend - please email f.newham(at)scotchina.org or speak to a member of the committee on the night.

ADVANCE NOTICE

This year the Confucius Institute is organising a Festival show featuring dance and music performances from the Dong and Miao people from the southwest region of Guizhou as part of the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Guizhou Ethnic Arts Ensemble are a professional group which have achieved critical acclaim in Europe and the USA. They will appear every lunchtime in the New Town Theatre, 96 George Street, Edinburgh from 5-23 August(except 8,11,18).