One bar into this timely celebration of his work and the composer's identity could not be in doubt.

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Problems pile up for libertine Tom in Scottish Opera's dashing <i>Rake's Progress</i>

The Rake's Progress, Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Stravinsky's morality tale is given a spirited and purposeful reading by singers and orchestra alike

Album: Ysaÿe, Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, opus 27 – Tai Murray (Harmonia Mundi)

Eugène Ysaÿe's 1924 sonatas anticipate the memorial beauty of Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Suites for Unaccompanied Violin by three years and the desolate fury of Bartók's Sonata for Solo Violin by two decades.

1. Indigo Lace Drum Lampshade, Heal's, £62.

Know your lace: Because it's not just for doilies and dresses...

1. Indigo Lace Drum Lampshade

Royal Shakespeare Company: The Heresy Of Love

Enjoy a two-course meal in the RSC’s Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, followed by a performance in the Swan Theatre for just £30 per person

Tolomeo (James Laing) with Achilla (Jonathan Best) in a serious, simple production of Giulio Cesare

Giulio Cesare, Grand Theatre, Leeds
Prokofiev: Man of the People? Royal Festival Hall, London

This serious, simple production of Handel's opera is strong on storytelling and character, but suffers from musical hiccups

1. Gothic Chair

Rubens and Britain, Tate Britain, London

In 1629, Rubens came to London to negotiate a treaty between England and Spain; that done, he was knighted by Charles I and arose as Sir Peter Paul.

Rembrandt drawing stolen from hotel

A drawing by Rembrandt, valued at $250,000 (£152,000) has been stolen from a hotel in California.

The Roman Forum, By David Watkin

Unlike the previous 15 volumes in Profile's excellent "Wonders of the World" series, this learned but lively book explores a site that "can be baffling, ugly and frustrating".

Album: Sounds Baroque, Conversazioni I: Cantatas From A Cardinal's Court (Avie)

Conversazioni I presents a programme of baroque pieces reflecting the patronage of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, a well-connected young Venetian related to Pope Alexander VII who chose to indulge his passion for music through copious commissions of Albinoni, Handel, and both Scarlattis.

Album: Danielle de Niese, Beauty of the Baroque (Decca)

The gamine soprano follows up last year's Diva compilation with this excellent set on which she revisits the Baroque music that first drew her into performance.

Villagers, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

On a permanently purple-tinged stage, Villagers create a show of rich contrast.

Album: Miles Kane, Colour of the Trap (Columbia / Sony)

Power pop, with a hint of glam, and a fair amount of Last Shadow Puppets-like orchestral baroque – what did you expect from the first Miles Kane solo album?

Album: Handel, Alexander's Feast &ndash; Ludus Baroque / Neville-Towle (Delphian)

Richard Neville-Towle delivers a toothsome account of Alexander's Feast with Ludus Baroque.

Career Services

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Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans
What's wrong with Rory?

What's wrong with Rory?

Is the trouble with the defending US Open champion in his head, in his swing, with his girlfriend – or is it all in the minds of others?