Arts
In tune with nature
Like most ambitious artists, Julian Cooper has been pulled this way and that by seemingly conflicting influences. The son and…
Backing stars
Have you ever looked at backing singers and thought: what is their story? Do they or have they ever prayed…
Preparatory studies
Opera seems almost always to have been acutely concerned with its own future. These days this is most often manifested…
Man power
Louis XIV might have been a narcissistic and whimsical tyrant, but he did a lot for dance. An accomplished practitioner,…
Our island story
A young pretender raises an army to take the throne. Having recently learnt of his father’s beheading, the adolescent —…
The 5 Live effect
It’s amazing to think that it’s 20 years since the launch of Radio 5 Live. But it was bright and…
Charting history
When you’re next waiting for a train at King’s Cross, don’t waste time window shopping on the concourse. Instead, pop…
Charting history
When you’re next waiting for a train at King’s Cross, don’t waste time window shopping on the concourse. Instead, pop…
Charting history
When you’re next waiting for a train at King’s Cross, don’t waste time window shopping on the concourse. Instead, pop…
Man power
Louis XIV might have been a narcissistic and whimsical tyrant, but he did a lot for dance. An accomplished practitioner,…
Old school ties
Robert Gore-Langton talks to Julian Mitchell about the painful roots of his hit play Another Country
The Menuhin test
‘The truth is,’ says Gordon Back, lowering his voice, ‘that if the violin finalists from the BBC Young Musician of…
German giants
It’s German Season in London, and revealingly the best of three new shows is the one dealing with the most…
Senses working overtime
In 1914 Fernand Léger gave a lecture about modern art. By then recognised as a leading Cubist artist, he had…
Dream team
If ever an opera was weighed down by its creators’ joint ambition, it is Die Frau ohne Schatten. Richard Strauss…
The third way
It all started in 1971, when a group of physically and artistically talented youngsters decided to create a dance company…
Male order
Here’s a great idea for a play. Turn the polygamy principle upside-down and you get a female egoist presiding over…
Height but no depth
A Long Way Down is about four would-be suicides who meet for the first time on the top of a…
Brothers under the skin
One of the stranger things about Eton is its near-total lack of class snobbery. Yes, all right, you still get…
The lives of others
It’s such a simple idea. Take a tape recorder. Hang around at the entrance to a railway station or in…
Lost in translation
At the Venice Biennale last year, Jeremy Deller presented English Magic in the British Pavilion. It was an aggressive look…
Lost in translation
At the Venice Biennale last year, Jeremy Deller presented English Magic in the British Pavilion. It was an aggressive look…
Lost in translation
At the Venice Biennale last year, Jeremy Deller presented English Magic in the British Pavilion. It was an aggressive look…
The third way
It all started in 1971, when a group of physically and artistically talented youngsters decided to create a dance company…
The Menuhin test
‘The truth is,’ says Gordon Back, lowering his voice, ‘that if the violin finalists from the BBC Young Musician of…
