Culture Digest: Handel’s Saul and David, Goldberg Variations and Allelujah!
Hot Brown Honey
This award-winning group of wonder women combine a barnstorming mix of music, dance, and burlesque with social activism and dazzling costumes. Part of the Africa Utopia festival at the Southbank, it puts our societal issues front and centre and celebrates difference.
24-28 July, Southbank Centre, London
Angela Hewitt: 60th Birthday Concert
The seasoned Canadian pianist leads her own birthday celebrations with a performance of Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations, a set of 30 inventions composed inspired by the bassline of the opening aria.
Vertigo
This re-release gives the opportunity to see Hitchcock’s heady psychological thriller once again on the big screen, made all the more gut-wrenching thanks to Bernard Herrmann’s famous score.
In selected cinemas nationwide
Saul
Expert Handelian Laurence Cummings conducts Barrie Kosky’s critically-acclaimed production of one of Handel’s finest oratorios, which looks at the relationship between Saul and David, the latter having just slain Goliath as the story opens.
Until 25 August, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes
Allelujah!
This new play by Alan Bennett (of The History Boys) captures the struggles and hopes of an NHS Hospital in the Pennines set for closure. Ex-History Boys Samuel Barnett and Sacha Dhawan join a cast director by Nicholas Hytner.
Until 29 September, Bridge Theatre, London
Prom 18: Currentzis conducts Beethoven
The sensational Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis brings his thrilling ensemble MusicAeterna to the Proms for a double-bill of Beethoven symphonies (nos. 2 and 5).
28 July, Royal Albert Hall, London
Censored! Stage, Screen, Society at 50
This exhibition marks half a century since the Theatre Act was passed, outlawing state censorship of the performing arts. It surveys works from music, theatre, and the screen from as early as the 1600s up to the time of Kubrick, and the Sex Pistols.
Until 27 January, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Edinburgh Art Festival
Celebrating its fifteen programme this year, Director Sorcha Carey and her small team have once again drawn together an impressive collection of exhibitions and events the utilise neglected and forgotten spaces throughout Edinburgh. Look out for Ruth Ewan’s Sympathetic Magick, the Johnston Terrace Wildlife Garden, and DEAD IMAGES.