Interviews with leading figures from the arts
theartsdesk Q&A: Conductor Olari Elts in Tallinn
Sunday, 22 December 2019
Arriving in Tallinn hotfoot from Paavo Järvi's inaugural concert as chief conductor of Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra, and expecting the limelight to belong to composer Erkki-Sven Tüür on his 60th birthday, I found another Estonian bonus in store.
'In every concert, I want to try to tell a story': Conductor Omer Meir Wellber at the BBC Philharmonic
Thursday, 12 December 2019
Omer Meir Wellber may be the first chief conductor of a major orchestra to have begun his tenure with a children's concert.
theartsdesk Q&A: Director Sir Jonathan Miller
Thursday, 28 November 2019
Doctor, writer, sculptor, curator, comedian, presenter and director, Sir Jonathan Miller (1934-2019) was one of the mighty cultural and intellectual...
10 Questions for Techno Musician Carl Craig
Saturday, 23 November 2019
In the eight years since theartsdesk last spoke to Carl Craig, a lot has happened. He moved from his native Detroit for a sojourn in Barcelona (...
'Shakespeare is mistakenly considered...
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Ophelia is one of Shakespeare's most enduring characters in both literature and art, and yet her part in Hamlet is limited to few lines and fewer...
'By the end I’d lost me': Joe Simpson, mountaineer and writer - interview
The story of Touching the Void has been told and retold. Its author explores its appeal |
'I’m having too much fun writing novels': author Nicolas Searle on The Good Liar
Writer explains the journey from debut novel to prestige film |
theartsdesk Q&A: Shakespears Sister
After 27 years they're back and chatting about reconciliation, yoga, the desert, Bananarama, and much more |
10 Questions for musician Craig Finn
Hold Steady frontman on his "more vulnerable" solo work and mental health on the road |
theartsdesk Q&A: Gianandrea Noseda on conducting Mahler and the Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra
The Italian conductor reflects after a blazing 'Resurrection' at the Tsinandali Festival |
'A laboratory for everything': Jasper Parrott on the future of his classical music agency
As Harrison Parrott celebrates 50 years with concerts on Sunday, its main mover reflects |
10 Questions for conductor Charles Hazlewood
The man with the baton talks books, Brexit, minimalism, techno and time machines |
10 Questions for author Martin Gayford
The prolific writer on his love of art and jazz, and what makes a good writer |
theartsdesk Q&A: composer Alastair White on his new opera ROBE
Emerging Scottish talent describes creating layers of reality in his latest work |
theartsdesk Q&A: Lia Williams on the challenges of theatre
As 'The Night of the Iguana' opens, the actor renowned for playing dual roles talks Tennessee Williams, Pinter - and Wallis Simpson |
Bob Dylan Special - theartsdesk Q&A: Scarlet Rivera
The violinist on 'Desire' and 'Rolling Thunder Revue' talks about working with Dylan at his peak |
'I wrote a letter to Björk in Icelandic and it did the trick': Helgi Tomasson on an intervention that saved a ballet
The artistic director of San Francisco Ballet heralds its all-new season at Sadler's Wells |
Chamber Music, Brighton Festival 2019 review - Wu-Tang Clan depths divined
The social and musical roots of the Wu-Tang Clan's debut discussed |
10 Questions for Cellist Raphael Wallfisch
On composers in exile, the forgotten beauty of English cello concertos, and why you shouldn’t mess with Beethoven |
10 Questions for Director Benedikt Erlingsson
Woman at War's Icelandic director on eco-activism, being chained to a whaling ship and a peculiar Cold War childhood |
10 Questions for Musician Will Gregory
The Goldfrapp mainstay talks physics, Moogs, Morricone and his work with the British Paraorchestra |
10 Questions for Musician Soumik Datta
The British-Indian sarod player talks jazz, colonialism, film and more |
theartsdesk Q&A: playwright William Nicholson
The 'Shadowlands' author talks about CS Lewis, love, pain and being a writer |
10 Questions for actress and playwright Nicôle Lecky
The rising star of stage and screen talks grime, feminism, sex work, Nicki Minaj and SENSE8 |
theartsdesk Q&A: Bananarama
The indestructible girl group on singing, clubbing, post-punk, Lemmy, George Michael and much more |
Director Jason Barker: ‘Trans lives are often portrayed so bleakly’
A Deal with the Universe filmmaker shares the story behind his pregnancy |
Interview with director Agnès Varda, who has died at 90
The French/Belgian filmmaking legend talked with Demetrios Matheou about her career |
10 Questions for Brighton Festival CEO Andrew Comben
Helmsman talks art forgery, politics and the highlights of this year's programme |
Q&A special: The making of Local Hero
As it becomes a stage musical, the film's writer-director and stars recall the birth of a masterpiece |
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