Interviews with leading figures from the arts
theartsdesk Q&A: bass-baritone Christopher Purves on communicating everything from Handel to George Benjamin
Tuesday, 28 June 2022
He’s the most haunting, at times terrifying Wozzeck I’ve seen, in Richard Jones's Welsh National Opera baked-bean-factory production, and the funniest Falstaff. When we met in his dressing room at the Zurich Opera House, Christopher Purves was about to perform the central role of bitter and twisted Alberich in Wagner’s Das Rheingold, and in a week’s time you can hear him singing Handel again, another speciality at the other end of the spectrum.
10 Questions for art historian and fiction writer Chloë Ashby
Saturday, 11 June 2022
“Is she at a pivotal point in her life but unable to pivot…?” Eve, the young heroine of Chloë Ashby’s dazzling debut novel, Wet Paint, asks this question standing in front of Édouard Manet’s painting "A Bar at the Folies-Bergère" (1882). Yet she could easily be asking herself the same question.
theartsdesk Q&A: Marc Almond of Soft Cell
Thursday, 12 May 2022
Soft Cell, the duo consisting of Marc Almond and Dave Ball, announced they were calling it quits in 2018. The two sold out shows at the 02 in London...
10 Questions for Musician Jarboe
Friday, 22 April 2022
Jarboe is a singer and musician who first rose to prominence as a member of Swans from 1985 to 1997. During this time, she and her then partner and...
William Hurt, great Hollywood contrarian, has...
Sunday, 13 March 2022
No actor had a classier time of it in the Eighties than William Hurt, who has died at the age of 71. Ramrod tall, blue-eyed and aquiline, with a high...
The unexpurgated Clement Crisp - in memoriam
The titan of ballet critics, who has died at 95, once agreed to be grilled - with scorching results |
10 Questions for filmmaker Romola Garai
The star’s macabre directorial debut 'Amulet' is fuelled by anger |
10 Questions for musician and DJ Pete Tong
On his latest EP and his musical life thus far |
theartsdesk Q&A: jazz musician Charles Lloyd
Jazz Zelig’s long, strange trip from Howlin’ Wolf to Norah Jones |
theartsdesk Q&A: Low, the band - 'Structure is key in minimalism. Especially in pop minimalism'
Mimi Parker and Alan Sparhawk reveal their thoughts about recent album ‘Hey What’ and offer a gardening tip |
'A nun destroyed my tent': artist Kate Daudy talks about NFTs, refugees, and having her work thrown out with the trash
The artist's first 'Non-Fungible Token' goes live as part of a new online exhibition |
Documenting the unimaginable: photographer Sebastião Salgado talks about climate change, dodging caimans and changing perspectives
How does Western behaviour risk turning the Amazonian paradise into a hell? |
RIP dancer and photographer Colin Jones - obituary
Dubbed the George Orwell of photojournalism, Jones married Lynn Seymour |
10 Questions for writer Lucia Osborne-Crowley
The author of 'My Body Keeps Your Secrets' on trauma, shame and community |
theartsdesk Q&A: filmmaker Marco Kreuzpaintner
What his new film 'The Collini Case' says about Germany, the Nazis, justice and the law |
theartsdesk Q&A: writer and comedian Tom Davis
From singing Disney songs in drag to 'Murder in Successville' and BBC One's 'King Gary' |
10 Questions for novelist Mieko Kawakami
Assaying 'Heaven' - the Japanese writer on childhood, vulnerability, and violence as a complement to beauty |
10 Questions for Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream
The singer talks concept albums, Mary Chain days, and his new music with singer Jehnny Beth |
theartsdesk Q&A: choreographer Christopher Scott
The creator of the sizzling dance scenes for 'In The Heights' on how they came about |
theartsdesk Q&A: composer and conductor Carl Davis
The silent film specialist on shot lists, bass drums and the perils of projection speeds |
Singer-songwriter Peggy Seeger: still in the vanguard of her musical dynasty
A member of America's great musical clan, Peggy Seeger has been a fixture on the British folk scene for more than 60 years |
Filmmaker Darius Marder: 'Deafness is a culture. That's not being PC'
Writer and director on Sound of Metal's long journey from concept to award nominations |
theartsdesk Q&A: Author Sam Mills on the phenomenon of the 'chauvo-feminist'
The novelist and non-fiction writer discusses #MeToo and her latest long-form essay |
theartsdesk Q&A: conductor Klaus Mäkelä
Balancing freedom and control in Oslo and Paris |
10 Questions for Vocalist-Lyricist Georgia Mancio
Portraying beauty, dignity and hope - and love, joy and sadness - in song |
theartsdesk Q&A: Daryl Hall
Legendary singer-songwriter talks recording, vaccines and reaching a billion streams |
theartsdesk Q&A: actor and comedian Andi Osho on her debut novel 'Asking For A Friend'
The multi-tasking artist talks social media, 'Line of Duty', and learning how to not act |
theartsdesk Q&A: Amina Cain on her first novel and her eternal fascination with suggestion
The American writer discusses 'Indelicacy' and characters who are flawed and unfixed |
theartsdesk Q&A: Isabella Pappas on how 'Finding Alice' is a blueprint for bereavement
Youngest star of the ITV drama discusses grief, teenage girls, and getting into character |
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