54 m. ago ‘The cultural landscape is decimated’: Louise Alder on stage fright, arts funding and the Last Night of the Proms

The great soprano will be the first British singer to top the bill at the Last Night in over a decade. So why does she advise her younger colleagues to leave the country?It’s the height of the August heatwave when I sit down opposite British soprano Louise Alder in a fiercely air-conditioned central London office. We’re here to discuss her headline performance at this year’s Last Night of the Proms but, as a seasonal warmup, I ask whether she’s had a break this summer. Alder looks faintly amused, then reminds me she’s been at Glyndebourne doing three performances of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro every week since the end of June. In fact, she was on stage as the Countess barely 12 hours earlier.“It’s never-ending,” she says. “I don’t want this to come across negatively – it’s been the most amazing contract – but an extremely long run. Twenty shows, which I think is the longest single run that Glyndebourne has done.” Days after the show closed, the company performed it again at the Prom...

Politics

11 h. ago EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert review – Baz Luhrmann’s electric yet avoidant documentary

Toronto film festival: the bombastic director’s second film about the music legend shows the singer at his most mesmerizing but the picture remains incompleteBaz Luhrmann now has two Elvis movies under his bedazzled belt. The first is his epic biopic starring Austin Butler and now he has unleashed another called EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, remixing archival material with never-before-seen footage from the singer’s residency in Las Vegas. What’s remarkable about them both, apart from the director’s obvious affinity for his subject’s showmanship, is his refusal across so many hours of jiggling and swivelling to meaningfully hold Elvis to account.Luhrmann’s Oscar-nominated 2022 film acknowledged Elvis’s cultural appropriation: how his phenomenal success owed so much to the R&B, gospel and rock he grew up around and the racist institutions that put him on a pedestal while holding down the Black artists that birthed and gave that music its soul. The movie also painted Elvis as a ...

Culture

20 h. ago Brit dubbed 'God's influencer' becomes first millennial saint after 'miracles' performed

A boy from London who has been credited with performing two 'miracles' has been made the first-ever millennial saint by Pope Leo after being branded 'God's influencer'

Science

45 h. ago Watch Gorillaz' official video of playing debut album in full at London 'House Of Kong' residency

Watch Gorillaz' official video of playing debut album in full at London 'House Of Kong' residency  NME

Politics

47 h. ago Arijit Singh stuns London crowd with surprise ‘Saiyaara’ performance; Fans cheer for the retro rendition

Arijit Singh stuns London crowd with surprise ‘Saiyaara’ performance; Fans cheer for the retro rendition  The Times of India

Politics

64 h. ago Gorillaz Release Concert Film of Debut Album Performance in London: Watch

Gorillaz Release Concert Film of Debut Album Performance in London: Watch  Consequence of Sound

Culture

3 d. ago Gorillaz Debut New Album with Loads of Guests at Mystery Show in London

Gorillaz Debut New Album with Loads of Guests at Mystery Show in London  Consequence of Sound

Culture

3 d. ago Folk Bitch Trio: ‘Being pathetic and lonely is great for songwriting’

On the heels of their debut album Now Would Be A Good Time, the Melbourne indie band open up about life on the road, their global aspirations and ‘the pathetic little tragedies’ that occur in your 20sGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailAs Folk Bitch Trio tell it, the music industry is a sadly predictable place.“It’s exactly what everyone says it is, and exactly what everybody warns you about when you’re 18 and want to start working in music,” says vocalist and guitarist Jeanie Pilkington. “No one makes much money. The artist often ends up getting the shitty end of the stick. You have to work really, really, really hard, and sometimes it feels impossible.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 04 September: Currys cheer lifts retailers, Jet2 caution fuels airline selling

Currys shares today jumped by a fifth after the electricals retailer boosted confidence with another robust trading update.

Society

3 d. ago King of Birds flocking to Airdrie Town Hall for night of music

Charlie and Stirling Gorman will perform hits from their standout debut album 'Eve of Destruction'.

Politics

3 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 04 September: Currys surges on strong trading, Jet2 shares slide

Currys shares today jumped by a fifth after the electricals retailer boosted confidence with another robust trading update.

Politics

4 d. ago Wayne Brady And Lulu To Perform London Concerts Of New ‘To Sir, With Love’ Stage Musical

Wayne Brady And Lulu To Perform London Concerts Of New ‘To Sir, With Love’ Stage Musical  Deadline

Culture

4 d. ago Gorillaz Debut ‘The Fall’ Tracks & Perform ‘Plastic Beach’ In London

Gorillaz Debut ‘The Fall’ Tracks & Perform ‘Plastic Beach’ In London  JamBase

Politics

5 d. ago Unseen Babyshambles at Glasgow Barrowlands snap unveiled to mark 20th anniversary of debut album

Brian Anderson captured an incredible snap of the Babyshambles singer but it nearly didn't end well.

Culture

6 d. ago Babyshambles to reunite for tour to mark 20th anniversary of Down In Albion

The band released their debut album in 2005.

Politics

6 d. ago How you can help this high school band perform at London's New Year's Day parade

How you can help this high school band perform at London's New Year's Day parade  WPTV

Culture

6 d. ago Help Palm Beach Lakes Community High School band perform at London's New Year's Day parade

Help Palm Beach Lakes Community High School band perform at London's New Year's Day parade  WPTV

Culture

7 d. ago Local high school band invited to perform in London, needs community support

Local high school band invited to perform in London, needs community support  WPEC

Culture

8 d. ago Rihanna releases 'new music' but fans are furious over singer's announcement

Rihanna has marked 20 years since the release of her debut album Music Of The Sun and released something special for her loyal fans, but not everyone was impressed

Politics

8 d. ago Watch Gorillaz play debut album in full as they kick off London residency

Watch Gorillaz play debut album in full as they kick off London residency  NME

Politics