Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts

80, MeiShuGuan (Art Museum) Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City; (07) 555-0331
Hours: Tuesday~Sunday 9 am-5 pm
(Closed Mondays and holidays)

Kaohsiung Cultural Center
67, WuFu 1st Road, Kaohsiung City
(07) 222- 5136
Openings based on performance schedule.

Kaohsiung Museum of Music
(07) 531-1000

Classical Music in Kaohsiung

--- By Elaine Translated by Monica Lin

Classical musicians were the "rockstars" of their day. Gone are the days when classical music was associated with upper class snobbery. Instead, dare to sit back in your most comfortable clothes and enjoy the exceptional standard of world-class performances that Kaohsiung has to offer.

The Kaohsiung symphony orchestra competes with the best and you'll be surprised to find that many of the concerts are unusually cheap; costing NT$100-300. If you happen to be at the culture center during the week at 7:30 p.m., you might be even able to catch some amazing free concerts!

Unfortunately for many foreigners, most of these events go by unnoticed, as it's difficult to interpret the posters featuring ballerinas, flamingo dancers, and Cats.
Pick up the monthly calendar of events at the Art Museum on MeiShuGuan Road or at the Culture Center on Wufu 4th Road. This handy booklet will give you the lowdown on all you'll need to know. You'll also find a souvenir shop at the eastern side of the building where tickets can be purchased. And be sure to pay a visit to the small gallery next door, as it usually sports some pretty good exhibitions. If you're hesitant to spend money on getting your cultural dose, the Art Museum's outdoor cafe will run some great late afternoon shows during the Chinese new year and the Music Hall at Love River on Ho Shi Road also offers regular free outdoor concerts.

Stringed instruments aren't everybody's cup of tea, so why not see Cats, which will be showing at the Culture Center from February 2 to 10. This famous musical tells quirky tales from the nine lives of cats and will surely claw its way into the toughest heart.

Other concerts worth seeing are:
- Shih-Fei Tseng Cello Recital, Music Hall. February 13, 7:30 p.m., featuring Richard Strauss' Sonata for Cello and Piano F-major, Op 6.
- Yueh-Ling Lee Piano Recital, February 3, 7:30 p.m., Culture Center Chih Shan Hall. The Chopin Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brilliante in E flat major, Op.22 promises to be a real treat!