ligust rts

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

MUSIC

Mozart's opera Idomeneo will be performed by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by Simon Rattle, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 2 and 4 August. This meeting of authentic performers with international-class conductors is all too rare, and should be encouraged.

Walton's Facade will be given at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 9 and 17 August to mark the centenary of the birth of its authoress, Edith Sitwell. Pamela Hunter will present the Performance, with readings from Edith Sitwell's writings, and the music will be played by members of the London Sinfonietta.

Two highlights of the August Proms will be Schoenberg's Gurrelieder on the 3rd, with Jessye Norman as Tove, conducted by Pierre Boulez; and, on the 23rd, Bernard Haitink will conduct the Glyndebourne production of Verdi's La Traviata, with Deana

Cotrubas. Peter Phillips

CINEMA

Black Widow (18). Rob Rafelson thriller, with Theresa Russell as a beautiful woman who marries for money, then kills her husband; Debra Winger as dowdy detective m Pursuit.

Jean de Florette (PG). Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu, in a drama set in Provence, 1920; Intriguing themes, and already a huge success in France.

Richard Dreyfuss in 'Tin Men'.

Tin Men (15). Richard Dreyfuss and Barbara Hershey in a sharp and clever comedy, its unlikely subject the shady dealings of

aluminium salesmen in Baltimore. 1963.

The Magic Toyshop (15). Fairytale profundities for Angela Carter fans, but probable deep confusion

for anyone else. Hilary Mantel

OPERA

Porgy and Bess, Glyndebourne, from 6 August. Revival of Trevor Nunn's acclaimed production with cast headed by Willard White and Cynthia Haymon; conducted by Richard Bradshaw.

Moses and Aron, Felsenreitschule, Salzburg, from 13 August. Theo Adam and Philip Langridge sing the title roles in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's new production, conducted by James Levine.

At the Edinburgh Festival, the Finnish National Opera guest season opens at the King's Theatre with Rigoletto, 26 August; first UK performances of Aarre Merikanto's Juba follow on 28 and 30 August. J orma ilynninen sings the leading role in both works. The Frankfurt Alte Oper production of The English Cat, I lenze's socio-political satire to Edward Bond's libretto, has its British premiere at the Leith Theatre on 18 August.

The first complete Ring cycles in Denmark since 1912 (three of them) run between 18 August and 6 September at Aarhus, with Laila Andersson, Lisbeth Balslev, Sven- Olof Eliasson, Leif Roar and Aage Haugland. Rodney Milnes

THEATRE

Fathers and Sons, Lyttelton (928 2252). Free adaptation by Brian Friel of Turgenev's classic novel. A brilliant piece of original theatre despite drab sets. Alec McCowen leads an excellent cast.

Serious Money, Wyndhams (836 3028). Caryl Churchill's scatological cartoon-strip comedy about City profiteering post-Big Bang. Some of the best of the original Royal Court cast are missing. Still vibrant.

Follies, Shaftesbury (379 5399). Sondheim's reworked version of his original flop show. This one has some dazzling set pieces but is less acerbic, more self-indulgent than the original. Unlikely to flop this time, however. Cast includes the cool and lovely Diana Rigg in a beguiling strip-tease routine.

The Merchant of Venice, Stratford (0789 296655). New production starring excellent Antony Sher as Shylock. Christopher Edwards

POP MUSIC

Madonna, Wembley Stadium, 18- 20 August. It's virtually impossible, of course, to get a ticket for this without selling most of your possessions, family and internal organs to the ticket touts. A pity, because the show promises to be spectacular.

Stevie Wonder, Wembley Arena, 29-31 August, 1, 3-6 September. Does Britain exist beyond north- west London? Not according to most American acts, it seems. Still, Steveland may well be worth travelling for, with two decades of tunes in his hell.

Marcus Berkmann

EXHIBITIONS

The Woodner Collection, Royal Academy, till 25 October. Over 100 superb drawings by masters as various as Titian, Direr, Watteau, Goya and Cezanne. Draughts- manship from the golden past.

C'ellira's 'Satyr' at the RA

Museum of English Naive Art, School House, The Vineyard- Paragon, Bath. Amateur artefacts 1750-1900. Contemporary life through untrained eyes.

Treasures from India, Clive Museum, Powis Castle, Welshpool. New museum with finest British collection of Indian art outside London.

The Image of London, Barbican Centre, 6 August-18 October. How others saw our capital: 250 of the greatest paintings and drawings of London by foreign artists 1550- 1920. Giles Auty

DANCE

Ballet Rambert, Big Top, Battersea Park, 4-15 August (240 1066/1911). There are two premieres in this season of four programmes: Richard Alston's Strong Language, with electronic score by young composer John-Marc Gowans and costumes by fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, and Woifi, Lynn Seymour's ballet drawing on Mozart's music and life, with exotic 18th-century-style designs by Andrew Logan. Julie Kavanagh

GARDENS

Bramdean House, nr Alresford, Hants. Open 16 August, 2-5. Well known for its large herbaceous borders.

Rhoose Farm House, Barry, Glamorgan, Open 9 August, 2.30- 5.30. A large informal garden which has a Hepworth sculpture as well as 17th-century troughs filled with alpines.

Norton Conyers, Wadi, Ripon, Yorks. Open 9 August, 2-5.30. A fully cultivated large walled garden