The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 37

THE GUARDIAN Tuesday April 26 1988 ARTS AMP ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE 37 Pocket version of Verdi's Falstaff to open London's International Opera Festival A small touch of brilliance Rattle: CBSO Birmingham, London. See Classical Inbal: LPO, Thursday, Festival Hall. See Classical Edwards: RO conducting debut The Knot Garden WC2 (01-379 6107) 8.00, Sat 5.00 8.15. Fri-Sat Also on offer: Peter Hall's full-frontal Salome with Maria Ewine and Dohnanyi conduct Cairns: Leonora in Fidelio, Leeds. See Opera misza.

Landmark European works from the 14th to early 19th centuries (until June 12). Royal Academy of Arts Burlington House, Piccadilly W1 (01-439 7438) Mon-Sun 10-6, 3, cones Sun before 1.45 2. Green ParkPiccadilly Circus. TURNER AND ARCHITECTURE Examining Turner's skill as an architectural draughtsman, (until July 10). Tate OaHery Millbank SW1 (01-821 1313) Mon-Sat Sun Bob Crowley's design for Ariel in The Knot Garden WAS (NOT WAS) Immpeccable pop-literate Detroit soul band of Walk the Dinosaur infamy continue their biggest tour to date.

The KHz Whitworth St West (061-236 4355) 8.00. 6. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE MARTIN STEPHENSON AND THE DAINTEBS ft LOVE TRAIN Enigmatic troubador whose material lays a heavy emphasis on personal traumas undercut by easy-on-the-ears pop melodies. Plus soulful rockers. City HaH Northumberland Road (091-261 2606) 7.30, ring for prices.

JAMBS MOODV QUARTET Ronnie's regular modern bop maestro. Here until May 7. Ronnie SeoH'a 47 Frith Street W1 (01 439 0747) 8.30, 8, mams 2. Tube: Tottenham Court Road. JOHN SOUTH OATE A JULIE EVANS Modern jazz duo inspired by Joe Harriot's Indo-jazz fusions.

Post House Hotel Haverstock Hill NW3 (01-794 4306) 8.00, free. Tube: Belsize Park. PHILIP BENT BAND Superior fusion-inspired jazz flute from Jazz Warrior and band. Jazz Cafe 56 Newington Green N16 (01-3594936) 8.00, 1, cones 50p. Bus: 73141171a.

SONNY ROLLINSSTAN TRACBY BIO BAND Legendary elder statesman of improvised jazz, the one musician who can live up to John Coltrane's legacy ot tree-range styles. Supported by Stan Tracey and his big band, focussing in parts on then-homage to the Ellington era. Royal Festival HaH South Bank Cen tre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) 8.30, E5-E15. BRTube: Waterloo. EDINBURGH THE TOMMY SMITH QUARTET Magnificent modern Scottish jazz prodigy.

Celebrating his twenty-first birthday. wen's Hall Clerk Street (031-668 2019CC 668 2019) 8.00. 5. MANCHESTER BONE STRUCTURE Invigorating improvisation from this 10-piece ensemble led by Mark Nightingale. Band on the Wall Swan St (061-832 6625CC 236 7076) 8.30, 2.50, cones 2.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE MAXINE DANIELS Top-class jazz vocalist backed by uigoy rairweatner (trumpet), Johgn Barnes and the Billy Harper Trio. Comer House Hotel Heaton Rd (091- 265 9602) 8.30, 3.50. SHEFFIELD JAZZ TRAIN II Hard-driving young boo outfit led by Simon Purcell featuring the talents of various Jazz Warriors and the soulful dulcet tones of Cleveland Watkiss. Leadmlll Leadmill Road (0742-754500) 8.00, 4, cones 3. Visual art ALAN DAVIE: MAOIC FOUNTAINS (until June 4).

impel PBs Davies Street W1 (01-493 2488) Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30, Sat 10-1, free. Tube: Bond Street. ANNA ROWE Recent paintings and ceramic ob jects of mainly culinary imple ments tuntu May 6). OaHery 47 Great Russell Street Wl (01-637 4577) Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30, free. Tube: Tottenham Court RoadHolborn.

Square. OLD MASTER PAINTINGS Fifty masterpieces from the private collection of Baron Thyssen-Borne- THE ROYAL free. Tube: Pimlico. BRADFORD OPERA! Theatrical photographs of the last 30 years selected by Clive Barda, includes some of his own work for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the English National Opera and new work on the making of Opera North's new Tosca (until June 19). National Museum of Photography, Film A Television Prince's View (0274-727488) Tues-Sun 11-6.

closed Mon, free. LEEDS TURNER AT FARNLEY: THE BOOK OF BIRDS Centenary exhibition devoted to J.M.W. Turner's collection of bird studies (until June 19). Leeds City Art OaHery The Headrow (0532-462495) Mon-Fri 10-6, Wed 10-9, Sat 10-4, Sun 2-5, free. LIVERPOOL HOWARD WALKER Hong Kong ten years and counting; photographs by a Sunday Mirror photographer (until June 4).

Open Bye Whitechapel (051-709 9460) Tues-Sat closed Mon, free. OXFORD DRAWINGS BY RUBENS Illustrating Rubens skill as a draughtsman; landscape, figure studies, compositional studies (until May 20). The Picture OaHery Christ Church 0865-276172 Mon-Sat 10.30-1 2- 5.30, Sun 40p, cones 20p, mems free. STAFFORD WENDY RAMSHAW Innovative jewellery (until June 11). Stafford Art OaHery Lichfield Road (0785-57303) Tues-Fri 10-5.

Sat 10-4, closed Mon, free. Events ECHOES FROM THE WASTE LAND Poetry reading to celebrate the centenary of T.S. Eliot. British Library Great Russell Street WC1 (01-636 1544323 7557) 1.10, free. Tube: Tottenham Court Road.

THE QUICK END Michael Bracewell, Don Watson and Mark Edwards in a performance reading of their work, introduced by Kathy Acker. Turret Bookshop Lamb's Conduit Street WC1 (01-405 6058) 6.30. free. Tube: Chancery Lane. ABERDEEN WHAT WAS IT WORTH? Coin expert Nicholas Mayhew discusses monetary values 550 years ago.

Aberdeen Art OaHery Schoolhlll (0224-646333) 7.30. 1. cones 75p. Listings The Quard urn's daily entertain ments guide Is supplied by UsUngs Limited. Information for Inclusion should be sent to to Listings Lim ited, I DC House, 1-3 Mortimer St, London WIN 7RH.

(Ot-637 8S77). Classical music lit Unas! Judy Summers! Opera listings: Claudia Stumpfl. OPERA I Classical CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Simon Rattle conducts Gyorgy Pauk in Berg's Violin Concerto, See panel. Barbican Hall Barbican Centre EC2 (01-638 6891626 8795) Thursday 7.15, E3.50-E13.50. Tube: MoorgateBarbican.

ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Royal Gala Concert in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales. Jef frey Tate conducts Mozart's Piano concerto No 25 (with musuko Uchida), Mozart's Aria Ch'io mi scordi di te-(with Heather Harper), Kossim overture to Ttie Barber of Seville and Haydn's Symphony No 99. Barbican Hall Barbican Centre EC2 (01-638 8891628 8795) Today 7.45, 3- 11. Tube: MoorgateBarbican. OARRICK OHLSSON PIANO RECITAL Weber's Sonata No 1 Op 24, Schubert's Three Klavierstucke D946, Debussy's Images Book II and Bar ber's Sonata (1949).

Wigmore Hall Wlgmore Street W1 (01-935 2141) Tomorrow 7.30, E3-E8. Tube: Bond StOxford Circus. HAKAN HAQEOARDAVARREN JONES Baritone Hagegard and pianist Jones perform Schubert's Die Winterreise. Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 6800) Today 1.10, 3. BRTube: Waterloo.

JOCELVN ABBOTTRICHARD MAPPELEANOR BRON Abbott and Mann perform piano duets: Mendelssohn's Andante and Variations Op 83a, Schubert Fantasy D940, Ravel's Rapsodie espag- noie and saint-saens Tne carni val of Animals, with poems read by Eleanor uron. Wlgmore Hall Wigmore Street W1 (01-935 2141) Today 7.30, E2.50-E5. Tube: Bond StOxford Circus. JILL OOMEZJOHN CONSTABLE See panel. Wlgmore Hall Wigmore Street W1 (01-935 2141) Saturday 7.30, Tube: Bond StOxford Circus.

PERCUSSION SSKROUMATA Music from Kroumata's native Scandinavia dominates this programme: Per Norgard's Squares and Rounds, Jan Sandstrom's CamDi Anerti (1st London perf.) and S.D. Sandstrom's Drums. With works by Cage and Cowell. Almeida Theatre Almeida Street N1 (01-359 4404) Today 8.00, 5.50 (4.50 cones). Tube: Angel.

LONDON HANDEL ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR Denvs Darlow conducts Handel's Theodora, with Nancy Argenta (so prano) and John Mark Amsley (tenor). Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) Today 7.00, E4-E11. BRflube: Waterloo. LONDON HANDEL PLAYERS Handel Festival continues with Flute Sonata Op 1 No 5, Trio Sona tas Op 2 No 4 and Op 2 No 1 and Neun Deutsche Arien (with Gillian nsner), directed rjy Koy uooaman St George's Church Hanover Square W1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) Thursday 7.30, E4-E11. Tube: Oxford circus.

LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Mahler's Symphony No 9 conducted by Eliahu Inbal. See panel. Royal Festival Hall South Bank Cen tre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) Thursday 7.30, E2.90-E15. BRTube: Waterloo. LINDSAY STRING QUART ET-AIAHET HILTONPETER FRANKL See panel.

Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) Sunday 3.00, E2.50-E7.50. BRTube: Waterloo. MARIE-CLAIRE ALAIN Bach's The Art of Fugue. See panel. Royal Festival Hall South Bank Cen tre SE1 (01-928 3191CC 928 8800) Thursday and Friday 6.00, 4 (2.50 cones).

BRTube: Waterloo. MARTIN POWELL CLARINET RECITAL W. Joseph's Sonata No 1 (1st Poulenc's Sonata, Ireland's Fantasy Sonata and Kalliwoda's Mor-ceau de Salon Op 229. See panel. St John's Smith Square Smith Square SW1 (01-222 1061) Tomorrow 7.30, Tube: Westminster.

MARLOS NOBRE Composer Marios Nobre conducts the Orchestra of St John's Smith Square in a programme of his own works, and gives a pre-concert talk at 6.00. St John's Smith Square Smith Square SW1 (01-222 1061) Thursday 7.30, 3-5. Tube: Westminster. PERCUSSION SPECTACULAR John Whitfield conducts the En-dvmion Ensemble, Steven Schick. Simon Limbrick and a host of lead ing percussionists.

See panel. Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) Thursday 7.45, E4.50-E7. BRTube: Waterloo. STEVE REICH'S DRUMMING Nexus and Amadinda combine to give a performance of Reich's Drumming, rarely performed in its entirety. With sopranos Sarah Leonard and Nicole Tibbels.

Barbican Hail Barbican Centre EC2 (01-638 8891628 8795) Fridf.y 7.45, Tube: MoorgateBarbican. TINA ORUENBERQMICHAEL DUSSEK Violinist Gruenberg and pianist Dussek perform Beethoven's Sonata in Op 12 No 1, Faure's Sonata No 1 in and Violin Sonata by Janacek. Purcell Room South Bank Centre SE1 (01-928 3191cc 928 8800) Today 7.30, E3-E6. BRTube: Waterloo. BIRMINGHAM CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA See panel.

Birmingham Town Hall Victoria Square (021-236 2392cc 236 2392) Today and tomorrow 7.30, E3-E10. GLASGOW BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Schumann's Cello Concerto (with Robert Cohen) and Mendelssohn's Fifth Symphony, conducted by George Hurst. Concert Hall, BBC Broad casting House Queen Margaret's Drive (041- 339 8844) Today 7.30, free (no children under 12 admitted). MAXWELL DAVIESSCOTTISN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA See panel. CHy Hall Candlerlggs (041-227 50155511) Friday 7.30, E3-E8.

Saturday: Edinburgh (031-668 2019). Sunday: Inverness (0463-221718) E7.50-E13.50. Tube: Leicester Square. (A) JOURNEY'S END R.C. Sherriffs compassionate WW1 drama with Jason connery ana Nicky Henson.

WliKehan Theatre Whitehall SW1 (01 930 7765cc 379 6565) 7.45, Thurs Sat 3.00 7.45. E8.50-E13.50. TubeBR: Charing Cross. (A) MB AND MY QIRL Cheerfully old-fashioned Cockney musical, with Bonnie Langford and David Schotleld taking over tne leads. AdelpM Theatre Strand WC2 (01-836 76112) Mon-Fri 7.30, Wed 2.30 7.30.

Sat 4.00 8.00, E7.50-E17.00. (D) Tube: Charing Cross. (S) THE MERCHANT OF. VENICE Bill Alexander's RSC production, with Antony Sher's intense and controversial Shylock. Barbican Theatre Barbican Centre EC2 (01-628 8795638 6891) 7.00, 6- 15.

(D) Tube: BarblcanMoorgate. (S) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST Effective though stagey adaptation ot Ken Kesev powerful indict ment of life in a mental institution, John Vine leads the cast. Playhouse Theatre Northumberland Avenue WC2 (01-839 4401) 7.30, Tnur Sat 2.30 7.30, E6-E12. Tube: Embankment. (A) TEMPTATION Vaclav Havel's olav.

a loose inter pretation of the Faust legend, gives a powenui account 01 me in eastern Europe. A RSC production. The PH Barbican Centre EC2 (01-628 8795638 8891) 7.30, Thur 2.00 7.30, 8.50. Tube: BarblcanMoorgate. (S) A TOUCH OF THE POET Eugene O'Neill's rarely-seen family drama long and winding out worth the effort for the performances of Vanessa Redgrave and 007 Timothy Dalton.

Comedy Theatre Panton Street SW1 (01-930 2578CC 839 1438) 7.30. Sat 2.30 7.30, E4-E15. (D) Tube: Piccadilly CircusLeicester Square. (S) WATTINQ FOR OODOT Humorous and touching production of Beckett's classic, with strong performances from Alec McCowen and John Alderton. National Theatre) Lyttetton South Bank SE1 (01-9282252) 7.45, Sat Tue 2.15 7.45, E6.50-E14.

(D) TubeBR: Waterloo. (S) ZIBQFELD A new singing and dancing extravaganza, with Len Cariou, Geoffrey Hutchings and Louise Gold. Radium Argyll Street W1 (01-437 73734) 7.30, Wed Sat 2.45 7.30, E6.50-E21. Wed mats half price. (D) Tube: Oxford Circus.

(S) Fringe DOCTOR FAUSTUS Christopher Marlowe's vision of the new Renaissance man, selling his soul for knowledge and power. Yuma Vic The Cut SE1 (01-928 6363CC 379 4444) 7.30, 7.50, cones 3.50. TubeBR: Waterloo. FAUST Goethe's Faust with Simon Callow in the title role. Lyric Theatre King Street W6 (01-741 2311) 7.30.

E10-E23. Tube: Hammersmith. SORB THROATS Second in the Howard Brenton sea son Three Plays For Utopia. Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Sloane Square SW1 (01-730 2554) 7.30, Sat 3.30 7.30, Mon 4 Sat mat 4.00, Tues-Thurs 5.00, Fri-Sat 6.00. Tube: Sloane Square.

TREATS A new work from Christopher Hampton inspired by Ibsen's A Doll's House. Watermem High Street (01-568 1176), E4.00. cones Mon-Thur E3.0D. BR: Kew Bridge. Dance LAURIE BOOTH AND DANA HEIR Premiere of a joint work from these two solo performers.

Theatre Dukes Road WC1 (01- 387 0031) 8.00, 5, cones 3. Tube: Euston. NORTHERN BALLET THEATRE Mixed programme including the humorous Suite Italienne; Me-moire Imaginaire, a dramatic piece by Michael Pink; and the dance-drama A Simple Man, based on the work of L.S.Lowry. With Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable. saoters weds Rosebery Avenue EC1 (01-278 8916) 2.30 7.30, 3.50- E15.

Tube: Angel, IWMWte I MANCHESTER RAMBERT DANCE COMPANY Start of a week's run with a pro gramme of Cunningham's Septet, Alston uutuui ducks ana strong Language, and Siobhan Davies's Rushes. Royal Northern College of Music Oxford Road (061-273 4504) 7.45, 6-6. RockFolk ALBERT LEE Virtuoso countryblues guitarist last sighted with Emmylou Harris's riot nana fronts nis own outnt. The New Pegasus 109 Green Lanes N16 (01-226 5930) 8.00, 5. Tube: Man or House.

ALDIMBOLA Stylish jazz-fusionist whose recent excursions have seen him infusing his emotive works with a cool Latin feel. Hammersmith Odeon Queen Caroline Street W6 (01-748 4081) 7.30, ring for prices. Tube: Hammersmith. BNOELBERT HUMPERDINCK Svelt Sixties crooner still going strong, sharing with Tom Jones a neat sense of irony regarding his sex symbol status. Fairfield Concert Ha Park Lane CR9 (01-688 S291) 6.30 9.00, 12.50- 17.

BR: East Croydon. BRIGHTON JOHN DENVER Legendary reflective singer-songwriter continues his UK tour. Brighton Centre Kings Road (0273-202881) 8.00. E7.50-E10.50. GLASGOW RUSH Canadian stadium rockers.

Centre (041-248 3000) 7.30, 10. MANCHESTER ing (tonight and Saturday); and Lucia witn (jruDerova (Thursday). Worth Queuing for. Opera North's new Fidelio on Thursday should nave been staged by Graham Vick with Lazaridis designs. But, sniped at by the Arts Council and nervous about costs, the company got cold feet.

Not surprising, perhaps, as the Vick staging was planned to end with a ritual water baptism on stage for all. Management pointed out they had been in dispute with the Chorus for years over the lack of showers at Hull. Washing off on stage would be provocative. The substitute, designed by Peter Mumford without plumbing, has been run up by Michael McCarthy who did Opera 80's clean, effective Seraglio. In English.

David Lloyd-Jones conducts, and the cast includes Janice Cairns, Jeffrey Lawton and Donald Maxwell. Don't miss: Death in Venice, Scottish Opera; Don Giovanni, WNO; Tosca, WNO. Gerald Lamer Music In the regions IT IS A particularly busy and interesting week in the regions. Simon Rattle and the CBSO. for example, are back from their tour of the USA and will no doubt be as warmly wel Patrick Wheatley pads up for Falstaff: QEH, May 2 and 5 Royal Opera House Covent Garden WC2 (01-240 10661911) Tues Sat 8.00.

E8-E55. Tube: Covent Garden. CANTERBURY BITTER SWEET Noel Coward's operetta performed by New Sadler's wells opera. Marlowe Theatre The Friars (0227-767246) 7.30, Tues-Sat, E6.50-E13.50. LEEDS CARMEN Bizet's tragic opera with Cynthia Buchan in the title role.

Friday. FIDELIO Opera North with a major new pro duction of Beethoven's only opera. Janice Cairns sings Leonora, see panel. Grand Theatre New Briggate (0532-459351) Thur Sat 7.15. E3.80-E17.80.

NORTHAMPTON CARMEN Opera 80's small-scale production, not the iewel in the company's crown but selling out on tour none theless. Today, Thur sat. THE SERAGLIO Clear and effective production by Opera 80 of one of Mozart's earlier operas. Derngate Guildhall Road (0604-24811) Wed Fri 7.30, E3.50-E11. SOUTHAMPTON EUQENE ONEQIN Welsh National Opera's stunning production of Tchaikovsky's tragedy of unrequited love.

Thursday. SALOME Welsh National Opera in their new production ot saiome, witn stepn-anie Sundine in the title role. Today Sat. TOSCA Welsh National Opera in Puccini's masterniece of love and treachery with Mary Lloyd Davies in the title roie. Mayflower Theatre Commercial Rd (0703-229771) Wed Fri.7.15, 6.50- 20.

Cinema (G) On General Release BARFLY (16) (Barbet schroeder, US 1987) 99 mins (G) Curiously indulgent, semi-autobiographical account of his mid-20s from Beat poet and Lord of the Street, Charles Bukowski. Mickey Rourke is the shambolic drunk- cum-poet in search of artistic inspiration. With Faye Dunaway. Cannon Premiere, Wardour Street W1 (01-437 2096) Progs 1.40, 3.45, 5.50, 8.05, 10.10, 4. Tube: Leicester SquarePiccadilly Circus.

Cannon Tottenham Court Road W1 (01-636 6148) Progs 1.30. 3.35, 6.00, 8.25, 4. Tube: Tottenham Court Road. BROADCAST NEWS (15) (James L. Brooks.

US 1987) 132 mins (G) Poking fun at prime-tune US news where a good rapport can defeat a good report. William Hurt, Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks are the three high-stressed broadcasters hurtline through the newsroom with personal lives in tow. A knowing script, bristling with bright comedy, but not as coruscating as it could be'- like US news in fact Camden Ptaza, Camden High Street NW1 (01-465 2443) Progs 3.05, 5.45, 8.25, 3.50, cones 1.50. Tube: Camden Town. mon Chelsea SW3 (01-352 5096) Progs 2.25.

5.20. 8.10, 4. Tube: Sloane SquareSouth Kensington. Odeon tfaymarket SW1 (01-639 7697) Progs 2.00. 5.00, 8.10, E3.60-E5.

Tube: Piccadilly Circus. Odeon High Street KonainBton W8 (01-602 6644cc 602 5193) Progs 2.00, 5.00, 8.10, 3.30. Tube: High Street Kensington. Odeon Swiss Cottage NW3 (01-722 5905) Progs 2.00, 5.00, 8.15, 3, cones 1.50. Tube: Swiss Cottage.

Screen on the Oreen, Upper Street Tom Sutellffo Opera highlights RAHAM Vick's remarkable pocket Version of Verdi's Falstaff. brilliantly adapted for small orchestra by Jonathan Dove, kicks off the London International Opera Festival next Monday. It's a first London appearance by the new City of Birmingham Touring Opera at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with Simon Halsey conducting. Casting is very strong with Patrick Wheatley a fine, robust Falstaff, Patricia O'Neill as Alice, Paul Nilon as Fenton, Mary Hegarty as Nanetta, Nigel Robson as Cams and Quentin Hayes as Ford. The wonderful thing about this cut-down Verdi is that, both musically and theatrically, the genius of the original masterpiece is revealed even more sharply under the micro scope, so to speak, thanks to the intimacy oi the staging originally toured last autumn and the effective new translation by Amanda Holden.

Not to be missed. Michael Tippett's third opera, The Knot Garden, was sup posed to launch the Peter HallColin Davis regime at Co-vent Garden in 1971, and made quite an impact then. A Freudian update of The Tempest, it has since gone through the Opera Factory mill. Now it emerges again at co- vent Garden in a new staging by Nicholas Hytner with de signs by Bob Qrowley. The conductor, making her Royal Opera debut (first by a woman too), is Sian Edwards.

Cast includes Rodney Macann, Anne Howells and Anna Steiger in the neurotic freedom fighter role that launched Josephine Barstow. The Knot Garden premiere on Friday is one of the Royal Opera proms lor which 4 tickets are sold an hour before the performance. LIVERPOOL ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHAR MONIC ORCHESTRA Tomorrow LiborPesek conducts Havdn's Symphony No 6 and Sibe lius's Violin Concerto (with Joseph Swensen) and. on Saturday, tne first of a series of concerts to mark the opening of the Liverpool Tate Gallery: Scriabin's Piano Concerto (witn uarncK unisson), Nono Due Espressioni and Mussorgsky's Pictures from an ExniDiuon. see panel.

Philharmonic HaH Hope Street (051- 709 3769) Tomorrow and Saturday 7.30, MANCHESTER BBC TV YOUHO MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR FINAL Brvden Thomson conducts the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the four competition finalists. To be broadcast on BBC2 on Sunday. Free Trade Hall Peter Street (061-834 0943) Thursday 6.45. E2-E6. INTERNATIONAL CELLO FESTI VAL GALA CONCERT The Festival opens with Bach's Cello Suites, played by Wolfgang Boettcher.

Thomas Demenga, David Geringas, Franz Helmerson, Koman jamonsKi ana Kaipn Kirschbaum. Royal Northern College of Music Oxford Road (061-273 4504) Friday 7.30, 10 (8 cones). SHEFFIELD HALLE ORCHESTRA Verdi Reauiem. conducted by Stan- islaw Skrowaczewski, with Alison Harean. Penelope walker.

Keith Lewis. David Wilson-Johnson and the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus. Sheffield City Hall Barkers Pool (0742-735295) Saturday 7.00, 2.50-7.80. Opera COSI FAN TUTTE Felicity Lott and Delia Jones sine the two sisters whose fidelity is put to the test in Mozart opera, see panel. London Coliseum St Martin's Lane WC2 (01-836 3161CC 240 5258) Wed Fri 7.00, Tube: Leicester SquareCharing Cross.

FALSTAFF Performed by City of Birmingham Touring Opera. See panel. Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre SE1 (01-928 3191CC 928 8800) Monday 7.45, E6-E18. BRTube: Waterloo. THE KNOT OARDEN Tippett's opera set in a maze-like garden.

See panel. Royal Opera House Covent Garden WC2 (01-240 10661911) Friday 6.00, E5.50-E30. Tube: Covent Garden. LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti's opera with Edita Gru- berova singing the title role for the first time in London. Royal Opera House Covent Garden WC2 (01-240 10661911) Thursday 7.30, E8-E70.

Tube: Covent Garden. THE MAOIC FLUTE Nicholas Hytner, director of ENO's 1985 Xerxes, returns to the Coli seum with his new production of The Magic Flute. London Coliseum St Martin's Lane WC2 (01-836 3161cc 240 5258) Today Thursday 7.00, Tube: Leicester SquareCharing Cross. THE MAKROPULOS CASE Janacek's opera with Josephine Barstow as a woman who has discovered the secret of eternal life. London CoHseum St Martin's Lane WC2 (01-836 3161cc 240 5258) Saturday 7.30, Tube: Leicester SquareCharing Cross.

SALOME Sir Peter Hall's Los Angeles pro duction, with a dramatic Covent Garden demit lor Maria ewuie in the title-role. Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Sunday). Edward Greenfield Music in London THURSDAY brings an em-JL barrassment of riches, remarkable even for London At the Festival Hall, Eliahu In bal conducts the LPO in Mahler's Ninth, while at the Queen Elizabeth Hall the Percussion 88 Festival has what is described as a Percussion Spectacular with new works by Xen-akis and Volans.Simon Rattle conducts the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. Today at lunchtime (1pm) Swedish baritone Hakan Hagegard, accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons, is singing Schubert's greatest song-cycle. Die Winter reise.

Another important recital of the week: Jill Gomez accompanied by John Consta ble at Wigmore Hall on Saturday (7.30pm), singing a programme of songs by Viennese composers. At St John's tomorrow (7.30pm) Martin Powell's clarinet recital includes the first performance of a sonata by Wilfred Josephs. 3.50. Tube: Baker Street. Cannon Bayswater W2 (01-229 4149) Perfs 1.10, 3.30, 5.50, 8.25 2.60, cones 1.50.

Tube: BayswaterQueensway. Cannon Fuiham Road SW10 (01-370 2636cc 373 6990) PrOflS 2.10, 6.10, 9.10, 3.50. Tube: South Kensington. Cannon Oxford Street W1 (01-636 0310) Progs 1.55, 3.55, 6.15. 8.30.

4, cones 2.50. Tube: Tottenham Court Road. Plaza, Lower Regent Street SW1 (01-200 0200) Progs 12.30, 2.45, 5.00, 7.15. 9.30, E4-E5. Tube: Piccadilly Circus.

THE PIED PIPER (PG) (Jiri Batra, Czech 1983) 57 mins. A grim and gothic, but superbly animated version of the legend of greed in medieval Germany. Real rats mix it with walnut puppets as the dark, autumnal colors amplify the sinister souls who scurry to and fro and fumble in their greasy tills. Not for the voung ones. Part of an animation festival including a second uarta piece on graves wno make love ana wage war.

NW3 (01-435-1525) Programme times change dally, Mon at 4.30, 8.30, 3 50p m'ship), 2 (cones). Tube: Hamp-stead. THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OP BEINQ (18) (Philip Kaufman, US 1987) 172 mins (G) In Prague 1968 a young surgeon with an overactive libido and equally alert mind (Daniel Day Lewis) is jolted by the twin distractions of the Soviet army and a girl from the country (Juliette Bin oche). Deeply pleasing rendering of Kundera's novel, its ODUque mix ot politics and metaphysics swathed in eroticism and a refreshing joie devivre. Cannon FuNiam Road SW10 (01-370 2636cc 373 6990) Progs 1.25, 5.00, 6.35, 3.50.

Tube: South Kensington. Emolre Leicester Square WC2 (01- 200 0200cc 240 7200) Progs 1.00. 4.30. 8.00, E4-E5. Tube: Leicester Square.

WITHNAIL AND I (15) (Bruce Rob inson. UK 1987) 102 mins (G) Witty and quirky portrait of two underemployed tnespians surviving on a diet of beer, done and their wits in late '60s Camden Town. The razor-sharp script and excellent performances from Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann cast a warm glow on the demise of hippy- dom and communal culture. Odeon High Street Kensington W8 (01-602 6644CC 602 5193) Progs l.OO, 3.30, 6.00, 8.30, 3.30.

Tube: High Street Kensington. reen en Baker Street Wl 01-935 2772) Progs 2.20, 4.25, 6.50, 9.00, 3.50. Tube: Baker Street. Warner West End, Leicester Square WC2 (01-439 0791cc 494 3001) Progs 1.55, 4.12. 6.30, 6.45.

4. Tube: Leicester Square. Theatre (A) Seats at all prices. (S) Limited availability (R) Returns only. (D) Disabled access BLOODY POETRY Howard Bremen's exploration of the extraordinary relationship be tween Byron and Shelley.

Royal Court Theatre Sloane Square SW1 (01-730 174S) 8.00, E4.O0-E1200 (Mons all seats 4.00). Tube: Sloane Square. (A) THE COMMON PURSUIT Wittv and exrjertlv-crafted comedy from Simon Gray. Rik MayaU and siepnen rry srar tenia charing Cross Road wcz (01-240 96812cc 836 2294) Mon-Thurs 8.00, Fri-Sat 6.00 A 8.45. Tube: Leicester SquareTottenham Court Road.

(S) EASY VIRTUE Noel Coward's comedy with Jane How playing the lead as a 'woman with a past'. Oarriok Theatre Charing Cross Road corned in Birmingham Town Hall today as at the Barbican on Thursday with the same programme on each occasion: weDern's six Pieces. OP.6. Berg's Violin Concerto (with Gyorgy Pauk), Stravinsky's Apollo, and the second suite from Ravel's Daphnis and unioe. In the Philharmonic Hall.

Liverpool, tomorrow Libor Pe-sek and the RLPO will be submitting themselves to the ex pressive extremes of Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy, after a com paratively sober first half of Haydn's Symphony No.6 (Le Matin) and Sibelius's Violin Concerto (with Joseph Swensen). In Scotland, Sir Peter Max well Davies will be conducting the SCO in three performances ot ms new Oboe concerto, which is the first in a projected series of 10 Strathclyde Concertos specially written for members of the orchestra. Robin Miller. SCO principal oboe, is the featured instrumentalist on this occasion, and Lorna Anderson is the soloist in the Scena di Berenice, one of the two Haydn works which com plete the programme. (City Hall, Glasgow, Friday; Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Saturday; N1 (01-226 3520) Progs 3.15.

6.05, 8.30, 3.50. Tube: AngeiHighbury Islington. COBRA VERDE (15) (Werner Her-zog, W.GerGhana 1988) subtitles 95 mins Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski advance on West Africa for a typically expansive rendering of the tale of Portugese bandit-cum-slave- trader cobra verae. Kinsia lenas the part his manical stare and de monic posture but little else, while Herzog seems more taken witn tne lure or tne spectacle than tne logic ot the script Gate Notttna HIE W11 (01-727 4043) Perfs 2.30, 4.30, 6.40, 9.00, 3.95. Tube: Norting Hill Gate.

Renoir, Brunswick Square WC1 (01-837 8402) Progs 3.00, 5.00, 7.00, 9.00. 3.80. Tube: Russell Square. EMPIRE OP THE SUN (PG) (Steven Spielberg, US 1987) 152 mins G) Spielberg's accomplished adaptation of J.G. Ballard's story about a nauseating 11-year-old separated from his parents when the Japa nese take Shanghai.

With Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Nigel Havers. Cannon Bayswater W2 (01-229 4149) pens 1.05, 4.15, 7.40, 2.80, cones 1.50. Tube: BayswaterQueensway. Cannon Edaware Road W2 (01-723 5901) Perfs 1.15, 4.30. 7.50.

2.80. Tube: Edgware Road. Cannon FuNiam Road SW10 (01-370 2636cc 373 6890) Progs 1.45, 5.10, 8.40, 3.50. Tube: South Kensington. Warner West End, Leicester Square WC2 (01-439 0791cc 494 3001) frogs 1.35, 4.45, BOO.

4. Tube: Leicester Square. A FLAME IN MY HEART (18) (Alain Tanner, Fr 1987) subtitles 110 mins (G) Billed as 'the new tango in Paris' Alain Tanner's disputation on obsessive sex is a peculiarly joyless, marginally sensuous affair. Chart ing the exploits of a desperate woman's search for companionship, the mood is as bleak and hollow as the sexuality it depicts. Cannon PfecadMy W1 (01-437 3561) frogs 1.00.

3.25, 5.50, 8.15, 4. Tube: Piccadilly Circus. FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC (15) (Jeffrey Bloom, US 1987) 92 mins (G) Barelv-releaseable adantation of Virginia Andrews's best-selling chiller. Alas, the only frightening thing about this film is how bad it is. Cannon Bayswater W2 (01-229 4149) Herts 2.00, 4.15, 6.30, 8.45, 2.60, cones 1.50.

Tube: BayswaterQueensway. Cannon Futttam Road SW10 (01-370 2636cc 373 6990) Progs 2.00, 4.15, 6.40, 9.10, 3.50. Tube: South Kensington. Cannon Haymarket SW1 (01-839 1527) Progs 2.10, 4.15, 8.25, 8.35, 4. Tube: Piccadilly Circus.

Cannon Oxford Street W1 (01-636 0310) Progs 2.15, 4.20, 6.25, 8.30, 4, cones 2.50. Tube: Tottenham Court Road. I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINOIHO (PG) (Patricia Rozema, Can 1987) 84 mins (G) Refreshing, low-kev eomedv about a socially-inept secretary who plunders her imagination to escape the mediocrity of her life. A small but wholly fetching portrait of honesty and pretence, with a winning central performance from Sheila McCarthy. Screen on Baker Street W1 (01-935 2772) Progs 3.35, 5.20, 7.15, 9.10, 3.50.

Tube: Baker Street. MOONSTRUCK (PG) (Norman Jewlson, US 1967) 102 mins (G) Oscar-winning Cher is the unmarried daughter in a Brooklyn Italian family who falls for her lumpen fiance's romantic younger brother (Nicolas Case). Short on scrtot. heavy on the heart strings. men Baker Street NW1 (01-935 9772) Progs 1.35, 3.50, 6.05, 8.20, MICHAEL GARDEN New production sponsored by The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd A fascinating examination of relationships and emotional barriers between individuals in the modern world.

Conductor Sian Edwards Producer Nicholas Hytner Designer Bob Crowley Lighting Robert Bryan Cast: Anna Steiger Anne Howells Linda Kitchen Christopher Gillett Rodney Macann Alan Opie Arthur Thompson Royal Opera -ef AQnCTU Garden 3, 6, 11, 14, 16t, at 8.00pm Royal Opera House Midland Bank Proms Performance fT.V. Recording Special Prices l-30 01-240 10661911.