Thomas Heatherwick: the new Da Vinci of design
From the cauldron that houses the Olympic flame to the 'new Routemaster' London bus, Thomas Heatherwick's innovative designs are more visible than everThomas Heatherwick is well aware of the place the inventor occupies in the popular imagination. "Ther...
Falstaff: Robert Carsen on Verdi’s English-Italian job
The opera director talks about the challenges of bringing Verdi's action-packed social comedy to London's Covent Garden and Milan's La Scala• Audio: Listen to Robert Carsen discussing the staging of Falstaff"In a way, Falstaff is the most English of ...
Vilde Frang – from prodigy to virtuoso
Frang, a Norwegian who performed with Mariss Jansons when she was just 13, is looking forward to performing in London and rescuing some of the violin repertory from 'student classes and old ladies'As the pianist and writer about music Charles Rosen pu...
Out in paperback: April non-fiction
From Jeanette Winterson's childhood memoir to a rereading of Shakespeare's sonnets and a year of watching sports fans, there's something for everyone in this month's non-fiction paperbacksThree very different examples of life writing are published in p...
Philip Hensher: a life in writing
'I think you can tell, when you meet someone, whether they read novels. There's some hollowness if they don't'When Philip Hensher was a small child he was not only an early reader – family legend has it that aged three he went off with an abridged v...
Anthony Caro: a life in sculpture
'I always pushed forward, and have had a career that would have been unimaginable even to myself back when I began'In 1955 the influential art critic David Sylvester identified Anthony Caro as the best British sculptor since Henry Moore. But by 1963 he...
Out in paperback: March non-fiction
Caitlin Moran's How to Be a Woman and Matthew Hollis's study of Edward Thomas lead this month's non-fiction titles, alongside a resourceful look at weeds, a book on the politics of gardening, and a timely look at Bernie EcclestoneOne of the most talked...
Gilbert & George: Lives in art
'People said you can't buy their art because they won't be together very long. Everyone splits up, don't they? But we didn't'"Man. Woman. Murder." Gilbert begins to intone. "Addict. Strangled. Rape." "Pervert", interjects George, "Suicide. Attack....
David Hockney: a life in art
'The iPad is like an endless piece of paper that perfectly fitted the feeling I had that painting should be big'David Hockney is lounging on a sofa in the studio on the top floor of his beachside house. On the wall in front of him are 18 television scr...
A life in the arts: Simon Callow
'I actually wanted to be a writer long before I wanted to be an actor''Dickens was the most gorgeous person you could possibly meet. He was just amazingly affable. Your day would be absolutely made if you bumped into Dickens. More than that, he possess...
A life in music: Antonio Pappano
'There seems to be a need for a front man for opera and classical music. To get people excited about them is a huge opportunity'This year's BBC Christmas treats for opera lovers will be prepared and hand-delivered by Antonio Pappano. On New Year's Day ...
Mahler in Beijing: classical luminaries celebrate centenary in China
China's growing influence in the world is mirrored by its flourishing classical music sceneThe great Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter is giving a lieder master class to a group of talented young students. She politely berates the accompanying...
