Prom 28: BBCNOW, Otaka review - fantastical choral expedition

★★★★ PROM 28: BBCNOW, OTAKA Fantastical choral expedition

Welsh orchestra sets its sights on Japan, Russia - and the moon

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ second consecutive night at the Proms, accompanied by their associated National Chorus, ventured further out of the classical mainstream than the first. Where Wednesday night had seen a solid Germanic programme of Brahms, Wagner and Mozart Thursday saw a British world premiere and some enchanting Japanese music, alongside two meaty Russian classics.

Johnny Marr, Royal Festival Hall review - rock royalty having the time of his life

★★★★★ JOHNNY MARR, ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL Rock royalty having the time of his life

The prince of Manchester pulls out all the stops in blistering set for Nile Rodgers' Meltdown

Nile Rodgers, the beaming, beret-sporting curator of this year’s splendidly eclectic Meltdown, strolls on to the Royal Festival Hall stage tonight to introduce his “dearest friend in the world”. The appearance of the CHIC maestro is not entirely unexpected given that he was, earlier this evening, at an event across the way in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, but it’s still a delight.

This Way Up, Channel 4 review - hilarity with a dark undercurrent

★★★★ THIS WAY UP, CHANNEL 4 Hilarity with a dark undercurrent

Funny or die: Aisling Bea stars in her self-penned comedy series

“Get those worksheets in by Monday or I will Brexit the lot of you,” says turbo-charged teacher Aine (Aisling Bea: The Fall, Gap Year) to her London TEFL class. Her students have just enjoyed a stimulating lesson built around the Kardashian family tree. “Kim is the…” Aine waits for the answer. “Yes, well done, the second eldest. And Khloé is the…yes, the middle one. She was the youngest until along came Kendall and Kylie.”

CD: Nérija - Blume

★★★★ NÉRIJA - BLUME Living, vivid jazz from the cream of young London talent

Living, vivid jazz from a septet that represents the cream of young London talent

You can see why of all jazz acts, the indie-centric Domino label went for this one. In particular if you took the drums and guitar of Lizy Exell and Shirley Tetteh alone, at various points here you could be listening to post-rock, with hints of Sigur Rós or God Speed You! Black Emperor especially on the album's epic centrepiece “EU (Emotionally Unavailable)”.

Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show, Southbank Centre review - c’est chic

★★★★★ JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER'S FASHION FREAK SHOW, SOUTHBANK CENTRE C'est chic

Opulent, decadent and a fabulous antidote to the woes of the world

What does one wear to watch a Fashion Freak Show, FFS? On the eve of London’s hottest day probably ever, the fashion faithful still turned out in sequins, PVC jackets, knee-high lace-up boots, turbans, wigs and floral headpieces, a skin-tight silver jumpsuit, full drag and even a white beret courtesy of Mr Nile Rodgers, who must have been blushing every time his disco anthem “Le Freak C’est Chic" erupted from the speakers. 

Prom 8, Faust, BBCSO, Eötvös review - terrific orchestral showcase

 ★★★★ PROM 8, FAUST, BBCSO, EOTVOS Terrific orchestral showcase

Three classics and a novelty find the 'house orchestra' at its best under Hungarian master

By happenstance, this Prom was fully topical, with Debussy’s languorous Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune fitting for one of the hottest days in London’s history, and the “Infernal Dance” from Stravinsky’s Firebird mirroring the infernal political dance taking place simultaneously in Downing Street.

Beuys' Acorns, Bloomberg Arcade London review – not much to look at, but important all the same

★★★ BEUYS' ACORNS, BLOOMBERG ARCADE A vital green initiative in the eco-unfriendly City of London

An installation that could make a difference

The City of London is an ecological disaster. Around Bank, Mansion House and Cannon Street there’s scarcely a green leaf to be seen. Glass, steel, concrete and tarmac create an environment that excludes plant life, birds and insects and is detrimental to human health.

Boogarins, Jazz Cafe review - psychedelic hues and Brazilian grooves

★★★ BOOGARINS, JAZZ CAFE  Psychedelic hues and Brazilian grooves

A trippy conversation where the psyche-pop-rock doesn't get lost in translation

I never quite know where I stand with with jazz. The endless, drifting circular loops of sound, subversive grooves and syncopated rhythms are like having the same conversation over and over, with slightly different turns of phrase and emphasis on different points.

Whitewash, Soho Theatre review - a wild-at-heart linguistic joy-ride

★★★★ WHITEWASH, SOHO THEATRE A wild-at-heart linguistic joy-ride

Energetic two-hander offers a sparky portrait of a transforming city

This witty street-smart play about a white-skinned boy born to a mixed-race mother deploys its narrative with the dexterity of a dance. Two performers move backwards and forwards across the stage, switching through different characters, skin colours, genders and generations, as they tell a story of pride, poverty, passion and prejudice.