On the Record review - #MeToo turns its lens to the music industry, gives the mic to women of colour

★★★ ON THE RECORD #MeToo turns its lens to the music industry, gives the mic to women of colour

An unflinching look at #MeToo, misogyny in hip hop, and the burdens of black women

On the Record, the latest documentary from Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering (acclaimed directors of The Hunting Ground), dives into the sexual misconduct allegations against music mogul Russell Simmons, the so-called ‘Godf

The Two Killings of Sam Cooke, Netflix review - civil rights and singing in an unjust world

THE TWO KILLINGS OF SAM COOKE, NETFLIX Civil rights and singing in an unjust world

An investigation into the life and untimely death of a civil rights hero

The Two Killings of Sam Cooke is a programme of multiples, a film which plays with doubles, divergences, and different narrative strands. It begins almost as if it will become a true crime investigation into a life cut short, moves into a more traditional music documentary, then ends on a defiant, powerful cry that his story (and his death) should still be so relevant.

Beethoven: 1808 Reconstructed, Aimard, Philharmonia, Salonen, RFH review - a feast in fading light

★★★★★ BEETHOVEN: 1808 RECONSTRUCTED An epic reconstruction of a historic concert

In dark times, an epic reconstruction of a historic concert

Like it or not, we live – as Beethoven did – in interesting times. In place of the revolutions, wars and occupations that convulsed the cities he knew, we now confront a silent, invisible foe that breeds an equal terror. Hence the empty seats in the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday: a small proportion of the whole, but still noticeable.

Classic Albums: Tears for Fears, Songs From The Big Chair, BBC Four review - anatomy of an anthem

★★★ TEARS FOR FEARS, SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR, BBC FOUR Classic Albums documentary hits the right notes, mostly

Latest BBC Classic Albums documentary hits the right notes, mostly

Roland Orzabal, co-founder and lead guitarist of Tears for Fears, laughs to himself often during this documentary — the latest in the BBC’s often-excellent, always-forensic Classic Albums series. “I agree, I agree, it sounds great,” says Orzabal. He’s listening to “Shout,” the band’s 1984 Billboard No. 1 hit.

Preludes, Southwark Playhouse review - journeying into the mind of Rachmaninoff

★★★★ PRELUDES, SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE Journeying into the mind of Rachmaninoff

Dave Malloy's innovative musical immerses us in a creative crisis

Where does music come from? That’s the vital question posed to Sergei Rachmaninoff in Dave Malloy’s extraordinary 2015 chamber work, as the great late-Romantic Russian composer – stuck in his third year of harrowing writer’s block – tries to relocate his gift. It comes from others and from himself; from past and present; from everything and nothing. It is ephemeral, and yet it is at the core of his very being.

Blues in the Night, Kiln Theatre review - hard times, hot tunes

★★★★ BLUES IN THE NIGHT, KILN THEATRE Sharon D Clarke leads a steamy, soulful musical revue

Sharon D Clarke leads a steamy, soulful musical revue

It’s too darn hot, BoJo is in Downing Street, and we’re all going to Brexit hell – so we might as well sing the blues. Or at least take a night off from the apocalypse to enjoy a virtuoso company singing them for us in this rousing revival of Sheldon Epps’ 1980 musical revue, which showcases jazz greats like Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen.

On Your Feet!, London Coliseum review - Gloria Estefan bio-musical hits familiar notes

★★★ ON YOUR FEET!, LONDON COLISEUM Gloria Estefan bio-musical hits familiar notes

The rhythm is gonna get you – even if the drama doesn’t

This well-meaning biographical jukebox musical about icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, which did two years on Broadway and a US tour, is good summer scheduling, what with its Latin-pop bangers, infectious dance routines and “Dreams come true” messaging.

Treatise Project, Goldsmiths review - potent symbols reveal rich music potential

Cornelius Cardew’s graphic score inspires diverse readings, both free and literal

Treatise by Cornelius Cardew is the defining work of the graphic notation movement. The score, completed in 1967, is made up of 193 landscape pages, each with two empty musical staves running along the bottom, with an array of graphic designs above, often incorporating elements of musical notation, but rarely specifying pitches or rhythms.