Must-see opera: Prima Donna  

Prima Donna at Palace, Manchester

Sunset Boulevard meets Phantom of the Opera in Rufus Wainwright’s portrait of loss, betrayal, delusion and nostalgia

Rufus Wainwright opera opens

Verdi-inspired Canadian-American songwriter works with the orchestra of Opera North and Daniel Kramer on Prima Donna

Review: Imagine: Rufus Wainwright, Prima Donna

Imagine, in mildly hagiographic mode, examined the musical family Wainwright through the prism of its talented son, Rufus

Is there no end to Rufus Wainwright's talents?

After releasing six albums, starring in films and resurrecting the songbook of Garland, you may as well write an opera. . .

Must-see art event: Fourth Plinth  

The fourth plinth art project unveiled

What are we to make of Antony Gormley's Trafalgar Square "fourth plinth” art project? Rachel Campbell-Johnston investigates

Trafalgar Square 'totally uncivilised'

'Bloody awful' atmosphere shatters the calm of the National Gallery

Too human to put on a pedestal

With their comedy costumes and worthy causes, the plinth people are not extraordinary enough to occupy their heroic surroundings

Man hijacks housewife's big moment

Anti-smoking activist climbs onto Fourth Plinth ahead of first speaker selected for Antony Gormley living art project

Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009  

Jackson death may be 'homicide'

Los Angeles police chief has raised the prospect of a homicide charge over the death of Michael Jackson

Family 'await return of his brain'

Los Angeles coroner confirms that Michael Jackson lay in his golden casket at the memorial service without his brain

Michael Jackson memorial divides opinion

A macabre circus or a fitting tribute? The King of Pop's star-studded Los Angeles memorial polarises opinion

Is this really what he'd have wanted?

It was, in the manner of Michael Jackson's life, a peerlessly odd evening ­ deeply moving but also surreal and random

Must-attend festival: The Proms  

US orchestras at the Proms

For the first time in living memory the Proms season (which opens next Friday) is not graced by a single American orchestra

The Proms: Your guide to this year's musical extravaganza

What to see and when, how to bag a cheap seat and a potted history of the Proms

A polymath prepares for Prom nights

The pianist Stephen Hough talks to Richard Morrison about rethinking Tchaikovsky and figuring out life as a gay Catholic

The Proms (with Goldie)

Gold-toothed drum'n'bass DJ to compose a new orchestral work

Must-watch film: Brüno  

Sacha Baron Cohen forced to tone down Brüno

Two versions of film will be shown in cinemas for the first time after censors ruled it too rude for a younger audience

Brüno: ich bin ein superstar - okay?

From fighting Paris Hilton for freebies to dropping in on Eminem, the fashion führer will do anything for attention

Brüno prances proudly into London

Unrelenting foolery as Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest creation, a gay Austrian fashion journalist, hits the big screen

Baron Cohen film hobbled by 18 rating

Strong sexual content has earned an adult rating for Brüno, Sacha Baron Cohen's long-awaited follow up to the film Borat

Must-see TV: Psychoville  

The new home of horror comedy

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, half of the League of Gentlemen, have moved to Psychoville, the new home of horror comedy

The verdict on Psychoville

The League of Gentlemen do it again with another gallery of grotesques and more dark humour, says Tim Teeman

From Royston Vasey to Benidorm

Tubbs has left the village - but her alter ego, Steve Pemberton, is still a Gentleman at heart, finds Bruce Dessau

Full Festivals coverage  

Glastonbury: the Times review

It didn’t matter that there was a glut of performances from older hands. Those who entertained were greeted with open arms

Springsteen overrun costs organisers £3,000

Michael Eavis offers to pay fine after the top of the bill musician breached the 12.30am Glastonbury curfew by nine minutes

I deserted you and still feel ashamed

Glastonbury is like your favourite football team: you stand by it. But I have to admit that I am a fair-weather supporter

Michael Eavis to hand Glastonbury to daughter

The festival founder plans to organise the event alongside daughter Emily until 2011 when he will give her full control

Edinburgh Festival  

A film tour and festival in Edinburgh

Gareth Scurlock enjoys the opening of the Edinburgh International Film Festival and a film tour of the city

Edinburgh efreshes the soul

The Festival reaffirms beliefs in 'things other than material', which is hard to do when materialism is society's driving force

Fancy being in my play tonight?

Mark Ravenhill intends to use special guests to enact segments of the dialogue, though he has no idea who they will be

Who’s the prize joker?

Nica Burns, the theatre impresario, has stepped into the breach to fund this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards