OCTOBER

MD DIARY

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

MUSIC

The South Bank 'Deutsche Romantik' Festival has just been launched and runs throughout October. The theme is interpreted as involving the depiction of nature, the supernatural, the artist as hero, and so on.

Music of 19th-century Germany will be at the forefront, but the festival also explores how several contemporary composers have responded to the Romantik ideals: Henze, Stabler, Stockhausen, Glanert and Finissy, most of them on display on the 24th. Otherwise highpoints should be: a concert performance of Weber's Euryanthe (16th), a Wagner Day with Roger Norrington (1st) and a recital given by Peter Schreier (7th).

The visit of the Tokyo Philharmonic under Kazushi Ono at the RFH (23rd) should be memorable: they will play Strauss, Prokofiev, Matsuo and Ravel (Daphnis and Chloe II). I would also draw attention to the British premiere of Shostakovich's only musical comedy - Cheryomushki - at the Lyric, Hammersmith (19th —29th).

Peter Phillips

OPERA

II Trovatore, Grand Theatre, Leeds (0532 459351), from 1 October, Paul Daniel conducts a new Opera North production of Verdi's warhorse, with the great Sally Burgess as Azucena.

Maria Stuarda, Glasgow (041-332 9000), from 7 October. Yvonne Kenny sings the title-role in Stefan Lazaridis' new Scottish Opera production of Donizetti's Schiller- based retelling of Mary's last years in captivity.

Don Quixote, London Coliseum (071-632 8300), from 8 October. Tichard Van Allan sings the title- role, long associated with Chapliapin, in Massenet's now rarely heard adaptation of Cervantes. A new ENO production by Ian Judge.

Das Rheingold and Die Walkure, Royal Opera House, (071-240 1066), from 13 October. First two instalments of Richard Jones' new production of Wagner's Ring, with John Tomlinson as Wotan. Bernard Haitink conducts.

Romeo et Juliette, Royal Opera House (071-240 1066), from 28 October. New production of gooey Gounod work, overshadowed by the same composer's Faust. Rising young stars Leontina Vaduva and

Roberto Alagna sing the star- crossed lovers, Charles Mackerras conducts.

Rupert Christiansen

CRAFTS

Work Ethics: an exhibition of metalwork and jewellery, Ruskin Craft Gallery, 101 Norfolk Street, Sheffiled, till 19 November. Modern silversmithing etc that honours one of Sheffield's oldest industries.

2010 —Textiles and New Technology, Crafts Council, 44a Pentonville Road, London N1, till 13 November. Futuristic international exhibition showing the impact of high technologies on textile design.

Its Plastic!, Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1, 14 October till April 1995. Off beat design show organised by two Swedish artists.

Angus Shuttle 1946-1993, Contmporary Applied Arts, 43 Eqrlham Street, Covent Garden, London WC2, till 5 November. Retrospective of extraordinary ceramics by artist who died young.

Tanya Harrod Maria Blaisse at the Crafts Council

GARDENS

Waterperry Gardens, which have been famous for many years for fruit, are the setting for Apple Days, on 21st — 23rd October, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

There will be apple tastings, a question and answer forum on fruit growing and pruning, and a chance to get your unknown apples identified by experts. (There is an excellent plant centre there.) Waterperry Gardens are at Waterperry, near Wheatley in Oxfordshire, Ursula Buchan

DANCE

Dance Umbrella '94, from 17 October. Britain's most established festival of contemporary dance, running for three weeks and spread across eight venues.

Homegrown talent includes Russell Maliphant (sharing a double bill with alluring Dutch dancer Ellen van Schuylenburch) at the ICA (071-930 3647) 19 and 20 October;

wayward classicist Matthew Hawkins with his Fresh Dances Group at Hackney Empire (081-985 2424), 28 and 29 October.

Sophie Constanti

THEATRE

The Slab Boys Trilogy, Young Vic (071-928 6363), 1 October. Tim Supple hoping to retrieve troubled regime with epic comedy from the 'Proust of Paisley' John Byrne.

Neville's Island, Apollo (071-494 5070), 3 October. Tony Slattery down from Nottingham with new Tim Firth comedy.

Sweet Lorraine, Piccadilly (071-369 1734), 6 October. Yet another songbook anthology, this one from Clarke Peters of 5 Guys.

What a Performance, Queens (071- 494 5040), 12 October. David Suchet as the great 1940s comic Sid Field in new stage biog.

Private Lives, Glasgow Citizens (041-429 0022),14 October. Yet more radical Coward reappraisal as Rupert Everett gets out the cigarette-holder for director- designer Philip Prowse.

Gaucho, Hampstead (071-722 9301), 24 October. Doug Lucie, for my money the best contemporary playwright after David Hare, writing and directing a new one.

Sheridan Morley

CINEMA

Forrest Gump (12). Tom Hanks plays America's favourite simpleton, an honour for which there's plenty of competition,

There are cameo appearances by Elvis Presley (to whom Forrest teaches his hip-wiggle) and LBJ (to whom Forrest exposes his bottom). Paramount's biggest grossing film ever.

The Lion King (U). Disney's latest blockbuster. Basically, Bambi in the jungle, but with heavy British participation: the songs are by Elton John and Tim Rice; the debonair villain is voiced by Jeremy Irons in his best George Sanders impersonation.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (15). Camping in the outback. remember Terence Stamp? he was big in the Sixties. Now, he's big Down Under, playing a transexual leading a Sydney drag act through Central Australia, The Shadow (12). 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.' The return of socialite crimefighter Lamont Cranston. If you're bored with movies based on Sixties TV shows, here's one based on a Thirties radio show.

Mark Step