Master Class – Vaudeville Theatre
Master Class is based on a series of actual classes that famed opera singer Maria Callas held at Juilliard in the 1970s. The play paints a portrait of Callas as both a brilliant performer and an exacting tyrant and gives us a sense of how Callas came to be the woman she was at the time of the play.

Mistreated by her family and possessed, yet not loved by the millionaire Aristotle Onassis, she regards the whole world as a series of hateful enemies, all plotting her demise. Tyne Daly is mesmerizing during these flashbacks, as she is during the rest of the play, bringing a depth and dynamism to an already accomplished script.

One positive aspect of this production is that it is clearly not interested in simply portraying Callas as a heartless monster, hectoring her students to the point of tears and tantrums. It also reveals a bit of what made a Callas great artist as well. For Callas, a great opera performance wasn't so much about vocal technique (Callas famously lost her voice after about 10 years of performing), but rather about achieving a fully realized character portrayal, and bringing out the drama inherent in the music.
www.masterclasstheplay.com

Der Rosenkavalier – Royal Opera House
The heart of this opera by Strauss is a clash of sexually charged Viennese egos. The volatility between the ageing Marschallin and her young lover Octavian is palpable. Octavian and Sophie mingle teenage desire with predatory self-interest. And they all lived happily ever after? Not at the end of this Der Rosenkavalier.

From the brazen whooping of the first bar's horns, it's clear that this score eschews the cosy approach and one is constantly reminded that this composer was also the composer of Elektra. Sarah Connolly returns as the ardent young 'Knight of the Rose', with Sophie Bevan as the innocent Sophie. Amanda Roocroft makes her role debut as the Marschallin, the worldly 'older woman' who graciously cedes her teenage lover to a younger rival. Also returning from the 2008 cast are Sir John Tomlinson as the rampant Baron Ochs and Andrew Shore as Faninal.
www.eno.org

David Shrigley – Hayward Gallery
What is the first major retrospective of Shrigley's work in Britain runs from February to May, showing more than 175 artworks, most of which are new or never before seen in London. Among those which will be a series of giant ovoid ceramic sculptures with "egg" written on them.

Also playing with scale is a series of ceramic boots, each slightly outsize. These works resemble his drawings, in that they have an eccentric, craft-fair aesthetic. His stuffed-dog sculpture, whereby a canine that has been taxidermically preserved displays a placard announcing "I am dead", also makes an appearance.

As befits such a polymath, Shrigley has also become a popular tattooist: that is, he draws images on the skin of members of the public, many of whom (including at least one prominent art critic) choose to have the result rendered permanent on their torso.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk

The Angel & Crown – Covent Garden
Although the densest concentration of London pubs is to be found in the West End, it can be hard to find one that you would like to linger in. They're convenient for the multifarious attractions of central London; many are historic, and some are very attractive, but most are owned by breweries or chains and are therefore ill-equipped when it comes to catering for the discerning palate.Consider then, The Angel and Crown.

Like its sister gastro pub, The Cadogan, this establishment exhibits a certain split personality. The ground floor is a convivial mixture of London natives and sightseers pressed up to the bar where the energetic bar staff keep the cocktails and banter flowing in equal measure. Here, you will find media brats rubbing shoulders with hip young families and after work drinkers.

Head upstairs to find a more serene, calm setting, with a similar crowd enjoying the menu of classic modern British cuisine. The Angel and Crown represents a long-overdue quality gastro pub presence in the heart of London and dispels the myth that Britain doesn't produce enough of its own beer and wine.
www.theangelandcrown.com

Babble City – Old Broad Street
Exceptional cocktails, individual service and great food make this newly launched venue the ideal place to catch up with old friends, have after-work drinks with colleagues, or to party late into the night.

Spread over three floors that show off three distinct environments, Babble City is a sleek and sophisticated newcomer to the financial district's lively bar scene and is tucked away just around the corner from Liverpool Street station.

Booth packages, private rooms and dedicated party planners are available to help with event planning whether they be of a corporate or personal nature so there is now no need for discerning City slickers to make the trek westwards to Babble Mayfair. Exclusive fun is right on their doorstep.
www.babble-city.co.uk

Matilda – Cambridge Theatre
At a time when Broadway blockbusters roll into the West End on a weekly basis, one wonders whether Billy Elliot signaled the last rites of the great British musical. Well the answer can be found in Dennis Kelly's superb adaptation of Roald Dahl's testament to the joy of reading and childhood cleverness.

Do not let the title mislead you, for the real success of Matilda lies in the fact it has something for everyone. Child spectators will relish its picture of adult insensitivity and injustice while adults will enjoy a display of showbiz expertise that may not be pure Dahl but that is nevertheless wholly delightful.

Tim Minchin's ebullient music and lyrics add gaiety to the somewhat dark story of a child who is not just a voracious reader and opponent of injustice, but who is also a prophetic storyteller who magically prefigures the plight of her one schoolroom champion.
www.matildathemusical.com

The Folly Bar & Restaurant - Monument
This newly opened City watering-hole introduces some much-needed horticultural exuberance to the local bar scene, with an enchanting lounge, adorned with trees & hanging chairs leading to a flexible space that embraces a bar, deli, flower shop and open kitchen. Long timber benches complete the feel of an urban garden. Food is served throughout the day with sharing plates, sandwiches and flatbreads featuring prominently as do a few more ambitious seasonal offerings. Eclectic wines, premium spirits and 'skinny' cocktails are the bar's main attractions. A fascinating subterranean level built around a cork-fronted bar has raised vault seats for increased intimacy.
www.thefollybar.co.uk

Backbeat - Duke of York Theatre
In this story, charting the origins of the world's most famous band, there is a crucial moment when John Lennon and Paul McCartney turn "Love Me Do" from an ordinary tune into an exuberant Beatles hit. But this production is more than an evening of familiar Beatles magic.

The main subject is the tragic fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe: painter, lost soul and hopeless guitarist who died of a sudden brain haemorrhage in 1962. The epitome of cool, Sutcliffe was Lennon's school friend who abandoned the group for the love of Astrid Kirchherr, the photographer who originally styled their mop-headed look. David Leveaux's stylish production works wonders with a West End stage. "Twist and Shout" has everyone dancing, apart from mournful Astrid, who has no Stuart to whom she can say "Love me do".
www.backbeatlondon.com

Fifth Floor Harvey Nichols – Knightsbridge
When it comes to combining power shopping with an elegant fine dining experience, Fifth Floor Harvey Nichols continues to hand neighbouring rival Harrods it's proverbial coat. However, far from resting on their laurels, they continue to forge ahead by not only completing a stunning renovation of the main dining area, but also launching the less formal, yet still exclusively chic Fifth Floor Café.

To say this is exquisitely timed would be an understatement, for the Christmas menu is up and running and special events are planned to coincide with the January sales. Poached turkey with apricot stuffing is a deliciously light option for those of us who prefer our festive fare without the stodge while roast haunch of venison is a must for game lovers.
www.harveynichols.com