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Over the last few years, traditional arts and culture have made a comeback in Kuala Lumpur. All over the city, small-scale performances are rubbing shoulders with the more slick revues at theatres and at the Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi (tel: (03) 2274 9966), the scene of tourist-orientated fortune telling, shadow puppets and batik painting demos. The city is also home to the nation's most renowned orchestra, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, which performs regularly. Despite this renaissance in local culture, Western cinema and music still dominate, especially among the younger generation. The monthly Vision KL Magazine (website: www.visionkl.com) gives listings on events and performances taking place in the city. It is available free of charge from four and five-star hotels and in some bars. There is no umbrella ticketing agency for cultural events in Kuala Lumpur. Tickets are purchased direct from the venue. |
Music: For classical music concerts, the main venue in town is Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, in the Petronas Twin Towers complex (tel: (03) 2051 7007; website: www.dfpmpo.com). Malaysia's first classical concert hall, this is home to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and also hosts other major classical concerts as well as cultural performances.
Theatre: The move of Malaysia's Panggung Negara (National Theatre) to the massive Istana Budaya theatre, Jalan Tun Razak (tel: (03) 4025 5932; website: www.istanabudaya.gov.my), has revolutionised Kuala Lumpur's theatre scene. With seating for almost 1,500 people, the RM210-million state-of-the-art venue is amongst the best in the world.
Dance: Traditional dance, such as Menora (all masked men) or Mak Yong (all masked women), is sometimes performed. However, there is no one venue or organisation taking charge of this. Some hotels and the Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi (tel: (03) 2274 9966), also stage visiting regional dancers.
Film: Kuala Lumpur has many cinemas spread throughout the city, most of which are located in big shopping malls and have performances in English.
Literary Notes: As a relatively new city, there is a distinct lack of English-language fiction set in Kuala Lumpur. Paul Theroux's Consul's File (1977) is an excellent collection of short stories set just outside the city. A Malaysian Journey (1993) is an engaging insight into modern Malaysia.