6 MAY 1972, Page 22

The Spectator's Arts Choice

• Chaucer's London, the summer exhibition at the London Museum (Kensington Palace) has been little noted, but is worth seeing for its painstakingly assembled impression of London and London life 600 years ago.

• Today's London is supposed to be en fête. The Evening Standard-sponsored ' Festivals of London 1972,' taking place in thirty-three Greater London Boroughs, plus the City, run from now until midJuly. Camden seems to have the most impressive set of events, with such venues at Kenwood, the Round House, the Shaw Theatre, Fenton House and the Town Hall, Euston Road, under its aegis. Full details: 01-387 6293.

• Opera: While the Royal Ballet is in the US, the Royal Opera has Covent Garden all to itself and the current repertoire includes the novelty of two operas sung in English, Bennett's Victory and Tippett's King Priam, as well as Madam Butterfly and Don Carlos in Italian, and The Flying Dutchman in German.

• Television: Two Parliamentary byelections and 342 municipal and county borough elections this Thursday (May 4) Will be covered and analysed in the ' 24 Hours' Election Special. Note that there will be a substantial revision of TV timings on Saturday, both BBC1 and ITV, if the Cup Final goes to 'extra time '; and if it goes to a replay, ITV will have to think again about their How the Cup Was Won (' in depth,' as they say) on Sunday afternoon.

• Radio: New production in stereo of Twelfth Night on Radio 3 (Sunday, May 7) re-unites Dorothy Tutin and Geraldine McEwan as Viola and Olivia, the roles they played for the Royal Shakespeare Company twelve years ago.

• Music: Jean-Pierre Rampal, 'the golden flautist' from France, greatly responsible for a re-awakening interest in the flute, is in Britain for a series of concerts this week, including one with I Solisti di Venisto at St John's, Smith Square, London, on Friday, May 5.

• Theatre: Following the Greeks at the World Theatre Season at the Aldwych come the Eduardo de Filippo Company from Italy in their robust comedy, Napoli Milionaria, for one week only from Monday. Still to come: companies from India and Poland.