Archives for 2010

 Among the several surprising exhibitions in London at the moment is the British Museum's Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa.   Like many people, I had vaguely seen some of the sculptures - such as the "Ori Olokun" head, because it was used as the logo for an all-African sporting event in 1973, and had managed to impinge on my consciousness.  But though … [Read more...]

 Among the several surprising exhibitions in London at the moment is the British Museum's Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa.   Like many people, I had vaguely seen some of the sculptures - such as the "Ori Olokun" head, because it was used as the logo for an all-African sporting event in 1973, and had managed to impinge on my consciousness.  But though … [Read more...]

 Two operas in a week and two odd, Anthony Powell-ish coincidences. Jonathan Miller's wonderful production of Così fan tutte is having its sixth revival at Covent Garden, and Sir Jonathan seems to have changed his mind again about how the story ends. In his original version, I seem to remember, the two boys leave the two girls and go off with each other at the end - though whether … [Read more...]

Enron has transferred to the Noel Coward Theatre after its beginnings at the Chichester Festival (where I saw it early last year) and then its run at the Royal Court. At the time I thought it was the best new play I'd seen that year and, indeed, yesterday its director, Rupert Goold, won the Critic's Circle award for best director for it. This was one of the few winners I managed to vote for in … [Read more...]

Late last year I had the good luck to be shown around the exhibition of Van Gogh's letters at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam by Ann Dumas, who is the curator of "The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters," which has just opened at the Royal Academy in London (and continues until 18 April).  So I am in the happy position of being able to tell you what almost no one has noticed - … [Read more...]