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disc of the day
Album: Linda Thompson - Proxy Music
Music by appointment to folk-rock royalty, from family and friends
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
tv
![Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, Renate Reinsve as Carolyn Polhemus](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Gyllenhaal%20MAIN.jpg?itok=vCiRaH_i)
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in absorbing TV adaptation of Scott Turow's legal thriller
![Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent, with Eric the giant blue puppet monster](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Cumbo%20MAIN.jpg?itok=4fzfPvK6)
Abi Morgan's drama is a strange mix of urban grime and magic realism
![Wheels up: Matthew Modine as Greg Townsend in 'Hard Miles'](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Hard%20Miles%20MAIN.jpg?itok=8Z3eG1Bk)
An eventful journey from 'Full Metal Jacket' to 'Oppenheimer' and 'Stranger Things'
film
!['What! They're gonna release it?' Russell Crowe as Anthony Miller](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Crowe%20MAIN.jpg?itok=Z6xznrXN)
Russell Crowe fights losing battle against booze and the devil
![Cruel intentions: Guards play human shuttlecock in Agnieszka Holland’s ‘Green Border’](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Green%20Border.jpg?itok=4bHlnH46)
A tough, brilliant spotlight on the lot of refugees from Poland's veteran, venerable Agnieszka Holland
new music
![Taylor Swift, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 22nd June 2024](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/tay%20header.jpeg?itok=X6Ly0O0S)
A vivacious and extraordinary celebration of female community and power
!['An album of real warmth and connection'](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/thompson.jpg?itok=Mb9rBt0T)
Music by appointment to folk-rock royalty, from family and friends
![Chillin' with them old blues](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Peyroux_LetsWalk_Cover_03_3600x3600%20%281%29.jpg?itok=F2jUDM0f)
Ninth album from US singer is a quietly likeable set of retro jazz-blues contemplations
classical
![Martin James Bartlett watched with delight by Fantasia Orchestra leader Millie Ashton](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Fantasia%201.jpg?itok=v4fqQDvE)
Fascinating, far from easy parade brililiantly executed by top young team
![Allan Pettersson in action](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Allan%20P.jpg?itok=VoGrVIDE)
Epic outpourings from a Swedish maverick, a rich life narrated by saxophone and contemporary music presented in a novel way
![Horn player Ben Goldscheider](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Goldscheider.jpeg?itok=AuRRAY-6)
A tribute to Ukrainian music also featured a fearless take on Shostakovich
opera
![Ideal lovers: Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen as Cesare and Louise Alder as Cleopatra](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Cesare%201.jpeg?itok=3JdC7eMC)
David McVicar’s celebrated Handel returns in the highest style
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Smetana 200 celebrated with a feast on a scale only possible in his native Czechia
!['Gianni Schicchi' WNO cast](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Trittico%201_0.jpg?itok=TC84p4VF)
Puccini's varied demands met con bravura
theatre
![It’s all relative: Theo Ogundipe and Tiwa Lade in ‘My Father’s Fable’.](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/fable1.jpg?itok=2S4sJgVz)
New play about secrets from the past is both funny and profound
![Footloose: Ryan Nolan and Lauren Waine in ‘The Bounds’.](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/bounds1.jpg?itok=9te9BDC6)
New history play about football has a flawed second half
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'Brush Up Your Shakespeare' brings the house down in a strongly cast lineup
dance
![Primrose path: Artists of the Royal Ballet in 'Les Rendezvous', Frederick Ashton's first significant ballet, made in 1933](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Artists%20of%20The%20Royal%20Ballet%20in%20Les%20Rendezvous%2C%20The%20Royal%20Ballet%20%C2%A92024%20Tristram%20Kenton.jpg?itok=RdfXoFMz)
A delicious triple bill kicks off a worldwide Fred-fest
![Queen of the Night: Rocio Molina, the only flamenco dancer ever to win a prize at the Venice Biennale](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/AL%20FONDO%20RIELA%20%C2%A9%20O%CC%81scar%20Romero%20%C2%B7%20005_0.jpg?itok=xhgyuw_h)
Annual Spanish showcase opens with a dancer intent on subversion by edgy games
![Summer's lease: Francesca Hayward as Perdita and Marcelino Sambé as Florizel in Christopher Wheeldon's three-act ballet The Winter's Tale](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Francesca%20Hayward%2C%20Marcelino%20Sambe%CC%81%2C%20The%20Winter%27s%20Tale%20%C2%A92024%20ROH.%20Ph%20Andrej%20Uspenski.jpg?itok=kZJ7S4_m)
A compelling case for ROH's ballet-friendly rebrand
comedy
![Rachel Parris says she has become a person she never thought she would be](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Rachel%20Paris%202%20-%20Credit%20Karla%20Gowlett.jpg?itok=ob99tiSM)
Late Night Mash host on tour
![Steve Punt (left) and Hugh Dennis take affectionate aim at middle-class obsessions](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Punt%20%26%20Dennis.%20Photo%20by%20Tony%20Briggs%20%281%29.jpg?itok=x3DySx0c)
Double act back on the road after a decade
Books
![Kelly Clancy](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/kelly%20portrait.jpg?itok=Oe1dXxId)
The acclaimed neuroscientist on the world and history of games, in all their variety
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Comic novel rides the rollercoaster of 1990s teenagerdom among the Scottish elite
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A form-defying writer explores the troubled mindscape of a Soho photographer
visual arts
![Freedom Hunters, 1977 by Gavin Jantjes, screenprint on paper](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Gavin%20Jantjes%20Freedom%20Hunters%201977%20Screen%20print%20on%20paper%20100%20%C3%97%2070%20cm%20Photo.%20Ann%20Purkis%20Image%20courtesy%20the%20artist%20Gavin%20Jantjes%20%C2%A9%20Gavin%20Jantes%2C%20licensed%20by%20DACS..jpg?itok=oJbrW2XX)
Seething anger is cradled within beautiful images
!['Supremely strange wall-mounted objects': part of Laura Aldridge's installation at Jupiter Artland](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/laura%20aldridge%20installation%20view%201%20by%20author%20%282%29small_0.jpg?itok=C8MKlSNg)
Two Scottish artists explore childhood and play
![Installation view of Revelations, 2024 by Judy Chicago at Serpentine North](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Chicago%201.jpeg?itok=NChDbymF)
At 84, the American pioneer is a force to be reckoned with
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