AO.Ar tsDiary February A monthly selection of forthcoming events recommended by

The Spectator's regular critics

OPERA

Tristan and Isolde, New Theatre, Cardiff (0222 394844), 13 and 20 February. Welsh National Opera claim that this is 'the only Wagner production in the UK this year'. Shocking, if true — and all the more reason to make an effort to hear this new staging (by Yannis Kokkos) of one of his supreme masterpieces. The cast will be notable for the Isolde of Anne Evans and the conductor is the ever original and challenging Sir Charles Mackerras.

No Pasquale, London Coliseum (071836 3161), from 19 February. Even those who can't stick Donizetti tend to have a soft spot for his wickedly sharp comedy. Patrick Mason's cleverly updated Production, first staged by Opera North, comes to the English National Opera, where it will be conducted by Andrew Greenwood. The excellent Andrew Shore sings the title role, with Alan Opie and Rosemary Joshua as Dr Malatesta and NorMa. Should be fun.

Rupert Christiansen

POP MUSIC

Suede, touring, 24 February-1 March. The band everyone seems to be talking about, and no doubt the merciless hype will continue until they are actually forced to release some records. Haircuts, attitude, good interview technique — these boys have it all. Only talent seems to elude them.

Also recommended: Eric Clapton, back for his annual residency at the Albert Hall, 21-23, 25-27 February; terry Rafferty, still trying to live down 'Baker Street', touring, 20-28 February; Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Glasgow Pavilion, 11 February, London Victoria Palace, 14 February; and, in his most earnest incarnation yet, Elvis Costello, with The Brodsky Quartet, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 22 February, London Drury Lane, 28 February.

Marcus Berkmann

CINEMA

Damage (18) is Louis Malle's first Bshmade film. A doomed Conservative Cabinet minister (Jeremy Irons) has an affair with a Younger woman (Juliette Binoche). The story is based on Josephine Hart's best-selling novel and has been adapted for the screen by David Har Shot in black and white, Woody Allen's Shadows and Fog is a mock- 1920s Expressionist shocker about a strangler on the loose in a circus.

In Honey I Blew Up the Kid (U), the sequel to Honey I Shrunk the Kids, feckless inventor Wayne Szalinski (Rick Moranis) accidentally zaps his son with an

enlargement ray. Vanessa Letts

GARDENS

Since the 18th century, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew has had an enviable reputation for the quality of the work of its botanical artists, many of them engaged to depict new plants for Curtis's Botanical Magazine, now the Kew Magazine. Between 5 February and 28 March the work of three modern artists, Christabel King, Joanna Langhorne and Jessica Tcherepnine, will be on show at the Kew Gardens Gallery, in an exhibition entitled Three Continents. Ursula Buchan

CRAFTS

Rod Arad: Bleeding in Captivity, Edward Totah Gallery, 13 Old Burlington Street, Wl, 12 February-31 March. Poetic sculptural furniture by designer and architect.

After Spring', by Ron Arad Ceramics Spanish Style, Bluecoat Chambers, School Lane, Liverpool, 2-20 February. Interesting sounding collection of contemporary pots and jewellery from Asturias.

Tanya Harrod

MUSIC

The so-called Festival of Britten opens at the Barbican Centre on 25 February. Under the artistic direction of Rostropovich, this elaborate celebration will consist of concerts, films, study sessions and lectures lasting nearly a month. The concerts this month include Curlew River (in St Giles Church, Cripplegate (25th and 27th), the LSO playing his music (25th and 28th) and the Borodin Quartet (28th) playing his first two string quartets alongside two by Shostakovich.

A celebration of the music of Lutoslawski is to take place in Manchester between 12 and 19 February marking the composer's 80th birthday. The festival will feature the Halle Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta. Lutoslawski will be present throughout and a series of exhibitions will surround the event. Peter Phillips

THEATRE

The Return of the Native, Worcester Swan (0905 726969), 11 February. Rare staging of the Thomas Hardy novel.

Death of a Salesman, Theatre Clwyd (0352 756331), 12 February. Janet Suzman directing the Arthur Miller 'smile and a shoeshine' classic.

The Invisible Man, Vaudeville (071 836 9987), 16 February. Ken Hill's staging of the old H.G.Wells bestseller, in from Stratford East.

Pelleas, Tramway, Glasgow (041 422 1284), 23 February. Peter Brook brings his Parisian company back to Scotland for an adaptation of the Debussy/Maeterlinck musical drama. Sheridan Morley

DANCE

This year's bumper Spring Loaded season, at the Place Theatre (071 387 0031) and associated venues, runs for over two months from 1 February and features more than 30 contemporary dance companies. Small Axe shows the results of a new choreographic partnership between ex-Rambert dancers Gary Lambert and Ben Craft (19 and 20 February). Followed by the Jonathan Burrows Group in its final London performances of Very (22 and 23 February).

The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden (071 240 1066), 11 February. World premiere of David Bintley's Tombeaux, a one-act ballet set to Wiliam Walton's Variations on a Theme by Hindemith, designed by Jasper Conran and led by Viviana Durante and Bruce Sansom. Shares a triple bill with Fokine's magical The Firebird and Forsythe's hard- edged In the middle, somewhat elevated (11 and 17 February).

Sophie Constant!

EXHIBITIONS

Arturo di Stefano, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Engaging work by talented figurative artist, graduate of Royal College in 1981. Also on show at Purdy Hicks Gallery, Mill Street, SE1.

Angelica Kauffman: a Continental Artist in Georgian England, York City Art Gallery. Interesting work by founder member of Royal Academy but not quite so good as feminists claim.

The Great War. Britain's Efforts and Ideals, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Lithographs commissioned by the Ministry of Information in 1918, a distant date when Britain still had effort and ideals. Superb printmaking by Bone, Nevinson etc. Giles Auty