Reviews
American Primeval, Netflix review - nightmare on the Wild Frontier
Monday, 13 January 2025
It seems The Osmonds may not have been the worst outrage perpetrated on an unsuspecting public by the Mormons. American Primeval is set in the 1850s, and is based around the real-life massacre of settlers travelling from Arkansas to California by the Mormon militia known as as the Nauvoo Legion. This took place at Mountain Meadows, Utah, apparently triggered by rising tensions between the US federal government and Mormon leader Brigham Young.
- Comment
Chamayou, BBC Philharmonic, Wigglesworth, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - Boulez with bonbons
Monday, 13 January 2025
Top Brownie points for the BBC Philharmonic for being one of the first (maybe the first?) to celebrate the birth centenary of Pierre Boulez this year. His Rituel – in memoriam Bruno Maderna was paired somewhat uneasily with a second half of bonbons by Ravel (it’s his 150th anniversary year, too).Mark Wigglesworth was the maestro who piloted both parts of the programme, however, showing equally calm assurance and sympathy with their differing idioms.
The Maids, Jermyn Street Theatre review - new...
Monday, 13 January 2025
There are two main reasons to revive classics. The first is that they are really good; the second is that they have something to say about how the...
Gala Preview Show, De Montfort Hall review -...
Monday, 13 January 2025
Europe's biggest comedy festival, which showcases established stars, works in progress, workshops and competitions, kicks off next month, and this...
The Second Act review - absurdist meta comedy...
Sunday, 12 January 2025
Can any line from The Second Act be taken at face value? Not really. “I should never have made this film,” confides Florence (the starry Léa Seydoux...
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Music Reissues Weekly: Celebrate Yourself! The Sonic Cathedral Story 2004-2024
With the help of a sympathetic label, shoegazing once again confirms its resonance |
Maria review - Pablo Larraín's haunting portrait of an opera legend
Angelina Jolie puts body and soul into her portrayal of Maria Callas |
Titanique, Criterion Theatre review - musical parody sinks despite super singing
Affectionate piss-take set for cult status at best |
Babygirl review - would-be steamy drama that only flirts with transgression
Nicole Kidman gets hot and bothered about a sexy intern’s power plays |
It's Raining Men review - frothy French comedy avoids dating-app reality
Laure Calamy shines as a dentist whose marriage is in trouble |
Album: Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions - Cold Blows The Rain
Classic folk songs are given a desolate new setting |
A Real Pain review - Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin take a Holocaust tour of Poland
It's part comedy, part road movie and part psychotherapy session |
Liepe, National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Cottis, NCH, Dublin review - a spirited shot at Shostakovich
All energy devoted to a symphonic epic, played with total commitment |
Music Reissues Weekly: American Baroque - Chamber Pop and Beyond 1967-1971
Harpsichords, string quartets, woodwind and a summer-into-autumn melancholy |
Nickel Boys review - a soulful experiment
Pulitzer-winner becomes an immersive elegy to black teenage crime and punishment |
Albums of the Year 2024: The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy
It's in everyone else's 'best of' lists, so why not ours too? |
Davis, National Symphony Orchestra, Maloney, National Concert Hall, Dublin review - operetta in excelsis
World-class soprano provides the wow factor in fascinating mostly-Viennese programme |
SAS Rogue Heroes, Series 2, BBC One review - Paddy Mayne's renegade warriors invade Italy
Second helping of Steven Knight's hard-rockin' World War Two drama |
Best of 2024: Classical music concerts
Young and old in excelsis, and competition finales turned into winning programmes |
Best of 2024: Dance
It was a year for visiting past glories, but not for new ones |
The Split: Barcelona, BBC One review - a soapy special with seasonally adjusted sentimentality
Abi Morgan's fine legal drama loses its sting on foreign soil |
Best of 2024: Visual Arts
A great year for women artists |
Spence, Perez, Richardson, Wigmore Hall review - a Shakespearean journey in song
A festive cabaret - and a tenor masterclass |
Best of 2024: Comedy
Authentically good memories of the year |
Best of 2024: TV
Stars of stage and big screen all want to be on the telly |
Best of 2024: Music Reissues Weekly
Expanding present-day horizons with The Beatles, Lou Christie, Lou Reed and more |
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, BBC One review - hilarious high five to an indelible cast of characters
In Nessa, Ruth Jones has left behind a unique comic creation |
Best of 2024: Opera
Comedy takes gold over a year rich in standout performance |
Jamie Foxx, Netflix Special review - doctors and divine intervention
Comic discusses his recovery from a stroke |
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It all started on 09/09/09. That memorable date, September 9 2009, marked the debut of theartsdesk.com.
It followed some...
American Primeval, Netflix review - nightmare on the Wild Fr...
It seems The Osmonds may not have been the worst outrage perpetrated on an unsuspecting public by the Mormons. American Primeval is set...
Chamayou, BBC Philharmonic, Wigglesworth, Bridgewater Hall,...
Top Brownie points for the BBC Philharmonic for being one of the first (maybe the first?) to celebrate the birth centenary of Pierre Boulez this...
The Maids, Jermyn Street Theatre review - new broom sweeps c...
There are two main reasons to revive classics. The first is that they are really good; the second is that they have something to...
Gala Preview Show, De Montfort Hall review - Leicester Comed...
Europe's biggest comedy festival, which showcases established stars, works in progress, workshops and competitions, kicks off next month, and this...
The Second Act review - absurdist meta comedy about stardom
Can any line from The Second Act be taken at face value? Not really. “I should never have made this film,” confides Florence (the starry...
Music Reissues Weekly: Celebrate Yourself! The Sonic Cathedr...
Yeti Lane’s second album The Echo Show was released in March 2012. The Paris-based duo’s LP was stunning: holding together overall, as...
Album: Lambrini Girls - Who Let the Dogs Out
Phoebe Lunny and Lilly Macieira are furious. Livid with the rapist...