STAGE

Ennio Morricone, the Italian Oscar-winning composer, will soon be touring China for the first time - at the ripe old age of 80. His film scores have earned him five Academy Award nominations - for Malena, Bugsy, The Untouchables, The Mission and Days of Heaven, and he picked up an honorary Oscar in 2007. He also wrote the scores for Clint Eastwood's "spaghetti westerns", directed by his one-time classmate Sergio Leone. He will conduct an orchestra from Hungary.

8 pm, May 21

Great Hall of the People, west of Tian'anmen Square

400-818-3333

8 pm, May 23

Shanghai Grand Stage, 1111 N. Caoxi Lu

021-6481-2938

The St. Petersburg National Children's Ballet Theater from Russia will present Thumbelina. The group features young dancers aged from 7 to 17 and has played a very important role in the development of classical ballet. Art director Valery Kokorev is the best known dance coach in Russia.

7:15pm, May 31, June 1

Shanghai Theater Academy Theater, 670 Huashan Lu

021-6272-1976