Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by Alex Ross – review
This account of Wagner’s influence on the great and ghastly is passionate and encyclopedic, if unfocused
Autumn arts: our critics pick the best shows, film, music, books and TV
The world of culture is raring to go … from Steve McQueen’s first TV drama to Tracey Emin and Munch, here’s our pick of the season
A mushroom-related brush with mortality: how John Cage fell for fungi
Despite one foraging trip landing him in hospital, the avant garde composer held a lifelong passion for mycology
Poulenc: A Biography by Roger Nichols; Poulenc: The Life in the Songs by Graham Johnson – review
Two entertaining biographies of a complex, colourful composer
‘The nearest to God we get’: stars pick the Beethoven work they cherish
Ali Smith does an opus a month, Tony Hall saw Fidelio on Robben Island, and Lady Brenda Hale used to march to his Grosse Fuge. As the Proms celebrate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, stars reveal a favourite work
On my radar: Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s cultural highlights
Muhammad Ali on film, classical music on Instagram and a dessert to die for – the cellist shares his recent discoveries
The heat’s back on: our insiders’ guide to 2020’s best summer culture
From art to architecture, from festivals to films, our expert guests spotlight the hottest cultural events of the coming months
‘Soon you’ll hit gold!’: the day I took lessons with Herzog, Atwood, Lynch and more
Comedy tips from Steve Martin, film-making lessons from David Lynch, ballet insights from Misty Copeland … our writer signs up for MasterClass, the star-studded online tutorial service that’s booming in lockdown
Wagner’s Parsifal by Roger Scruton review – in defence of the insufferable
Nietzsche famously called Wagner’s last opera poisonous, but does its theme of redemption offer an antidote to our ills?
‘Milli Violini’: I was a fake violinist in a world-class miming orchestra
Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman spent years touring America in an orchestra of gifted players who mimed to CDs. She relives their bizarre performances – and her eventual collapse
The Eighth by Stephen Johnson review – Mahler and sexual creativity
Bereavement, illness, adultery … the trials of Mahler’s late years are part of the story of his Eighth Symphony. This magnificent study explores its greatness
Powderfinger, Paul Kelly, Adam Liaw and more: the best live streams for Australia and beyond
The Brisbane band’s one-off reunion is just one of many big things happening on a small screen near you. Here’s what’s coming up
Colson Whitehead and This American Life among Pulitzer 2020 winners
Author wins fiction prize for The Nickel Boys while the first ever prize for audio reporting goes to an episode of the hit podcast
Tiger King and a bloody mary: Hilary Mantel, Simon Armitage and other writers on lockdown life
Simon Armitage pogos to neo-punk, Anne Enright craves for Cary Grant, The Seventh Seal cheers up Julian Barnes, Diana Evans works out to hip-hop and Jeanette Winterson talks to herself … writers reveal how they’re surviving the corona crisis
Edinburgh’s August festivals cancelled due to coronavirus
Fringe joins international, book and art festivals and military tattoo in pulling plug