German director Thomas Ostermeier’s radical interpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello, London Fashion Week and the San Sebastian film festival are among the highlights of Europe’s cultural agenda for this month. Art also features heavily with an exhibition of Italian Renaissance portraiture in Berlin and never before seen African folk art in Vienna. For music lovers, the Enescu music festival in Bucharest will feature some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. Following is some of the best of what’s on in Europe in September.
Austria
After making a splash in its Broadway debut in April, the musical Sister Act debuts in Vienna on September 15 at the Ronacher Theatre. Based on the hit film of the same name, this German-language production boasts an international cast and crew and is co-produced by the film’s star Whoopi Goldberg.
www.musicalvienna.at
Art: African culture is on display in every shape and form at Vienna’s Bank Austria Kunstforum gallery.
Under the title Afrika. Afrique.Africa, some 400 objects are exhibited, from wooden statuettes and beaded headdresses to terracotta masks, tunics and intricate carvings, with some dating back some 2,500 years.
The private collection of Raiffeisen Bank CEO Herbert Stepic, who has spent the last 30 years building it up, is being shown to the public for the first time. Till October 1.
www.stepic-collection.com
Sweden
Exhibit: Stockholm’s Millesgarden, a gallery and outdoor sculpture garden near the Swedish capital, presents an Italian-themed exhibit of Swedish and international artists who work with glass. Glasstress Stockholm presents works of artists who transform glass into a medium for contemporary art. Till January 15.
www.millesgarden.se
Literature: International authors hold talks with the public at Stockholm’s culture house (Kulturhuset).
The hugely popular International author’s stage event has run for 14 years and welcomed some 400 authors.
France’s Stephane Hessel will speak on September 12, Jonathan Franzen of the US on September 22, Nobel-prize winner Herta Mueller on September 27.
www.kulturhuset.se
Britain
Art: Exhibition focusing on Edgar Degas’s interest in the movement of ballet dancers. Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement at the Royal Academy of Arts includes around 85 paintings, sculptures, pastels, drawings and prints and photographs tracing the development of the artist’s ballet imagery throughout his career. From September 17 to December 11.
www.royalacademy.org.uk
Fashion: London Fashion Week showcases the new collections for spring/summer 2012. Although ranked fourth behind the catwalk shows of Paris, New York and Milan, London shows creations by Paul Smith, Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Issa, the Brazilian-born designer favoured by the former Kate Middleton – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Runs from September 16 to 21.
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk
Italy
Film: Stars including George Clooney, Al Pacino and Madonna descend on Venice for its annual film festival - the oldest in the world. The competition for the Golden Lion award, including 22 world premieres, runs until September 10.
www.labiennale.org/en/cinema
Art: Contemporary artist Jannis Kounellis donates an art installation made of old furniture to Cortona in central Italy on September 11 as part of an antiques fair in the town.
www.cortonantiquaria.it
Art: Italy: Sixty works by masters including Botticelli, Donatello and Leonardo da Vinci go on show in the city of Arezzo in the famous frescoed basilica of Saint Francis. From September 3.
www.pierodellafrancesca.it.
Germany
Art: The Bode Museum in Berlin in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York presents an exhibition of Italian Renaissance portrait art, including Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo Da Vinci. Until October 21.
( http://smb.museum/smb/gesichter )
Art: A retrospective of Japanese artist and printmaker Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) featuring over 350 works. Until October 24.
www.berlinerfestspiele.de/de/aktuell/festivals/11_gropiusbau/mgb_start.php
Cyprus
Theatre, music, dance: Start of the month-long Kypria 2011 international festival, featuring a wide variety of theatrical, musical and dance events and featuring artists including John Malkovich and the Prague Quattro Chamber Orchestra. Until October 1.
Belgium
The city of Brussels, capital of the Smurfs and Tintin, celebrates the art of comic books at a two-day festival. Cartoonists will meet the public at several events, with workshops for children, an open-air library and live drawing. Highlights will include a music and light show with videos and giant images of cartoons. On September 10 and 11.
www.bruxelles.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=1925
Greece
Art: Black Mirror, an audiovisual exhibit by award-winning American artist Doug Aitken starring Chloe Sevigny, traces the life of a woman through transitory moments captured at airports, hotels and other locations. The exhibit is hosted at the island Hydra’s former slaughterhouse, which was renovated and turned into a project space by the DESTE foundation two years ago. Until September 25.
www.artaz.gr/en/news/2011/6/14/black-mirror-doug-aitken.aspx
Art: The Last Grand Tour at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens showcases the works of international artists who spent part of their lives in Greece during the 20th century. Until October 10. For more information visit http://www.cycladic.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=NODE&cnode=1
Serbia
Music/theatre: The Dunav Fest, a festival dedicated to the culture of the Danube river, with theatre and musical performances around Belgrade’s Kalemegdan fortress overlooking the Danube. Until September 11.
Theatre: Ninth edition of the World Theatre Festival opens in Zagreb with German director Thomas Ostermeier’s radical interpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Until September 27.
www.zagrebtheatrefestival.hr
The Netherlands
Art: Paintings by Claude Monet, Johannes Vermeer, Francis Bacon and Salvador Dali among others will be on display at The Hague’s famous Mauritshuis as part of the exhibition Vermeer meets Dali – modern as guests. The exhibition pairs paintings from the old and new masters together to show how artists from different periods dealt with the same artistic questions. From September 15 tto December 11 of next year.
www.mauritshuis.nl
Russia
Music: The International Earlumusic festival in St Petersburg features music from the Renaissance period and the Russian Imperial court. Until September 29.
www.earlymusic.ru
Fashion: The exhibition “Paul Poiret, the King and fashion” at the Kremlin in Moscow showcases some of the couturier’s creations. From September 6.
www.kreml.ru
Art: Fourth biennial of Moscow contemporary art includes the work of over 60 artists. From September 22.
www.4th.moscowbiennale.ru
France
Contemporary arts: The Paris Autumn Festival is a festival of contemporary arts, embracing and combining different art forms with over 40 events running throughout autumn.
Exhibition: The Galeries nationales du Grand Palais presents Des jouets et des Hommes looking at toys throughout the ages and their role in Western culture. September 14 to January 23. www.rmngp.fr