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ARTS DIARY

A monthly selection of forthcoming events recommended by The Spectator's regular critics

THEATRE

Ms Pity She's a Whore, Olivier (928 2252). John Ford's play of 1630 directed by Alan Ayckbourn. Bearing in mind what this director did with Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge, this may be a Production to follow. Cast includes Rupert Graves and Suzan Sylvester. Opens 3 March.

The Browning Version and Harlequinade, Royalty (831 0660). Rattigan double bill starring Paul Eddington and Dorothy Tutin. Opens 17 March (previews from 11 March).

The Tutor, Old Vic (928 7616). Angelika Hurwicz is the European guest director of this comic melodrama adapted by Brecht from Reinhold Lenz's 18th-century work set in Prussia. Opens 15 March (previews from 11 March).

Hapgood, Aldwych (836 6404). New Tom Stoppard play starring Felicity Kendall, Nigel Hawthorne and Roger Rees. Opens 8 March (previews from 3 March).

Christopher Edwards

EXHIBITIONS

Edouard Vuillard, JPL Fine Arts, 26 Davies Street, Wl. Large selection of paintings and drawings by one of this century's gentler giants.

Contemporary Art for Personal and Corporate Collectors, The Minories, Colchester. Over 150 items, £2546,000, intelligently selected by art consultants Coode- Adams Martin.

Giacomo Manzu & K.G. Subramanyan, MoMA, Oxford. Leading Italian sculptor and eminent Indian provide interesting contrast.

Patrick Hayman, Louise Hallett Gallery, 27 Junction Mews, W2. Fifty years of informal painting by talented poet/painter. Giles Auty

OPERA

The Magic Flute, London Coliseum, 30 March. Nicholas Hytner's new production, conducted by Ivan Fischer, with new translation by Jeremy Sams.

From the House of the Dead, Opera-Comique, Paris, 10 March. Sir Charles Mackerras conducts a cast of Czech singers in Volker Schloendorff's new production of Jandeek's opera.

Salome, Welsh National Opera, Swansea, 25 March. The WNO's spring season opens with Stephanie Sundine in the title role of Strauss's opera, produced by Andre Engel and conducted by Charles Mackerras. Rodney MiMes

CRAFTS

Siileyman the Magnificent, British Museum, till 30 May. Spectacular treasures from Topkapi Museum, Istanbul. A coup for the British Museum.

Woven Air: The Muslin and Kantha Tradition of Bangladesh, Whitechapel Art Gallery, 4 March- 1 May. Textiles from Bangladesh covering the last 250 years. Fine designs and rich textures.

Detail from kantha (quilt) with harvest festival procession George Bullock, Cabinet-Maker, Sudley Art Gallery, Liverpool, till 27 March. First exhibition devoted to entrepreneurial cabinet-maker, sculptor, designer. His furniture and fittings for Napoleon in exile are surveyed at H. Blairman Sons Ltd, 119 Mount Street, Wl, till 19 March. Tanya Harrod

DANCE

Bugaku, Royal Opera House, 9 March (2401066). The Royal Ballet performs Balanchine's Japanese erotic fantasy for the first time. On the same bill is the world premiere of David Bintley's new work, 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café, with music by Simon Jeffes.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Bloomsbury Theatre, 22-26 March (387 9629). The sublime drag ballet company makes a rare visit to London with its inimitable repertory. Don't miss their versions of Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, The Dying Swan and the immortal Yes Virginia, Another Piano Ballet. Deirdre McMahon

MUSIC

The Berlioz Experience will take place on the South Bank (QEH and Purcell Room) on 4, 5 and 6 March. Conducted by Roger Norrington with the London Classical Players, performances will be backed up by workshops, a broadcast on Radio 3, talks and an exhibition. The Hilliard Ensemble will give a rare performance of music by the exiled Estonian composer Arvo Part in the Brompton Oratory on 9 March. They will sing his St John Passion, a masterpiece of intense religious expression, suitably presented during Lent in a great Catholic church. This concert is touring England on the Contemporary Music Network in March. Peter Phillips

CINEMA

Babette's Feast (U). Stephane Audran as famous Parisian chef who creates a culinary sensation in an austere and remote village.

Empire of the Sun (PG). Spielberg adaptation of J. G. Ballard's novel about boyhood internment by the Japanese; screenplay by Tom Stoppard.

Barfly (18). Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway: life and alcoholic times of writer Charles Bukowski.

At the NFT, the fourth Jewish Film Festival begins on 6 March. Hilary Mantel

POP MUSIC

Microdisney (touring). This group's mix of seething lyrics and sometimes mellifluous music has so far failed to make the charts. New album out at the end of March, though...

Everything But The Girl (touring). Also promoting a new record (Idlewind, out this week), Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn have forsaken the orchestral route for a return to their more spartan, jazz- influenced pop. Marcus Berkmann

GARDENS

The Royal Horticultural Society holds its Early Spring Show at the New Hall, Greycoat Street, Westminster, on 22 and 23 March.

Talking of shows, now is the time to apply for admission on the two `public' days (26 and 27 May) of the Chelsea Flower Show. Write to The Royal Horticultural Society, Chelsea Ticket Office, PO Box 40, Bristol BS99 1LX, or telephone 0272 217107 for credit card bookings. From this year, all tickets must be bought in advance.

Ursula Buchan

SALE-ROOMS

There are three re-discovered sketches by Constable in Sotheby's sale of British art on 9 March and works by Turner, Bonington and Lawrence the day after.

From 5 March, Christie's are opening one Saturday a month in Amsterdam — not a bad idea to take in one of these sales during a winter (or spring or summer) break