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

regular critics

MUSIC

Schoenberg: The Reluctant Revolutionary continues at the South Bank Centre. Highlights will be Maurizio Pollini playing Brahms, Schoenberg, Stockhausen and Beethoven (the Appassionata) on the 10th; Boulez and Barenboim conducting the Orchestra de Paris in a programme of Schoenberg, Berio and Stravinsky (The Rite of Spring) on the 12th; Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin's playing Handel, Schoenberg and Mahler on the 26th, all in the RFH.

The Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary between 18 and 27 November, featuring Stockhausen, who will take part in the performance of 20 of his works.

In Westminster Abbey, the English Chamber Orchestra and the choir of the Abbey will give the first performance of John Tavener's Akathist, at 7 p.m. on the 21st.

The Tallis Scholars will give a series of three concerts in St John's Smith Square on 16, 23 and 27 November. Each concert will contain one of the Western Wynde Masses, by Taverner, Sheppard and Tye respectively, with further music by these composers and their English

contemporaries. Peter Phillips

CINEMA

A Taxing Woman (15). A fast- paced and slyly humorous essay on Japanese society seen through the eyes of a female tax inspector; from Juzo Itami, director of Tampopo.

Bird (15). Director Clint Eastwood's darkly atmospheric portrait of jazz musician Charlie Parker has won golden opinions in festival screenings abroad.

The 32nd London Film Festival will include A Taxing Woman's Return and the Charlie Parker documentary Bird Now: it runs from 10 to 27 November and offers films from 35 countries besides videos, lectures and seminars. Booking opens 4 November (928 3232; recorded daily information

line 633 0274). Hilary Mantel

THEATRE

Macbeth, Royal Exchange, Manchester (061-833 9833). David Threlfall, last seen in superb form as the lead in Chapman's Missy D'Ambois at the Old Vic, takes on the Scottish play supported by Frances Barber.

Phedra, Citizens, Glasgow (041- 429 0022). Philip Prowse returns to Racine's masterpiece, this time in a .

smaller auditorium. It is bound to be a highly theatrical version.

Richard II and Richard 111, Phoenix (836-2294). Derek Jacobi returns to the West End playing both leads in these Shakespeare revivals directed by Clifford Williams. Opens 28 November.

The Tempest, Donmar Warehouse (240 8230). Yet another production of this work. But this time it is from Cheek by Jowl, our most original touring company. Director is the talented Declan Donnelan. Opens 24 November.

Christopher Edwards

CRAFTS

Avant Premiere: The Most Contemporary French Furniture, V & A, till 8 January. Stylish selection.

European and Decorative Carpets and Rugs, Gallery Zadah, 29 Conduit Street, WI, till 15 November. 18th-century Savonnerie, Morris and Voysey.

Traffic Art: Rickshaw Paintings from Bangladesh, Museum of Mankind. Fascinating examples of urban folk art.

Hans Coper, Galeric Besson, 15 Royal Arcade, WI, till 25 November. The late Hans Coper's pots fetch record prices in the sale-rooms — a modern classic.

Tanya Harrod

EXHIBITIONS

Prints by S. W. Hayter (19111-1988), Ashmolean, Oxford. Major retrospective covering 60 years' activity of one of this country's most influential printmakers.

Travels in Italy 1776-1783, Whitworth, Manchester. 18th- century impressions of the wonders of Rome, Naples etc. by Thomas Jones and kindred spirits of the Grand Tour.

Art in the Making: Rembrandt, National Gallery. Scientific investigation of materials and working techniques of the master everyone can learn from.

The Secret Garden: Sir Robin Philipson, Bruton Gallery, Bruton, Somerset. Imaginative evocations of the theme by this dashing handler of paint. Giles Auty.

POP MUSIC

Chris de Burgh, Wembley Arena, 16-21 November. The least fashionable man in pop music, save perhaps the members of Yes.

Sade, touring. Her subtle, jazzy songs have little meat on them but are always beguiling: expect a mellow evening. Marcus Berkmann

DANCE

The Sleeping Beauty, Covent Garden (240 1066), 4, 16, 17 November. Also Natalia Makarova and Antoinette Sibley in Ashton's A Month in the Country.

Rambert Dance Company, Haymarket Theatre, Leicester (0533 539797), 7-12 November. New works by Ashley Page and Siobhan Davies.

Dance Umbrella. The festival continues until 20 November. Highlights include Randy Warshaw, Platform and Jane Dudley at The Place (387 3647); Extemporary and Siobhan Davies Company at Riverside (748 3345) and DV8 at the ICA (930 3647). Deirdre McMahon

OPERA

The Making of the Representative for Planet 8, Coliseum (836 3161), 9 November. ENO gives the first European performance of Philip Glass's new opera to a libretto by Doris Lessing.

Manon, Covent Garden (240 1066), 14 November. John Cox, newly appointed production director for the Royal Opera, is in charge of a completely new production of last season's unfortunate flop, with Peter Rice adapting his original decor. Michel Plasson conducts, and the cast includes Leontina Vaduva, David Rendall and Francois le Roux. Rodney Mines

GARDENS

The Harris Garden, Whiteknights, Reading, is open on 6 November from 2 till 5. Run by the University of Reading School of Plant Sciences, this is a botanic garden with a woodland walk, fern garden, rose border, and collection of

foliage plants.

Also open in November (on the 27th, 12 till 3) is the garden at Beeches Farm, Buckham Hill, Uckfield, Sussex. This has a sunken garden, and borders planted for winter colour. Ursula Buchan

SALE-ROOMS

Lewis Carroll's photographs at Phillips on the 9th, contemporarY ceramics — still underpriced — at Christie's on the 21st; and Douglas Cooper's drawings, sculpture, prints and posters on the 30th, also