Eurofile

The current and curious inversions of racial prejudice that have resulted in people pretending to be black or brown mirror those of snobbery that accompanied the cultural revolutions of my youth

The Italian's conducting was so intense a friend swore he'd seen a white glow around him

There is usually no link between how a word sounds and what it means. But there are some notable exceptions

Sardines are making more appearances on restaurant menus today, and we might heed their example

Winter nights in Iceland are long and dark – just how writers like them

The Dutch craze for flowers made and lost fortunes – and produced some remarkable works of art

Son Heung-min is the perfect case study for a game pushing players past acceptable limits by saturated schedules

While influenced by American R&B, the emerging superstar’s eponymous “Raguwavy” is virtually unique

This pared-down production is theatre at its most basic and minimalist

This farce is a limp, boring and painfully unfunny exercise in folie de grandeur

Nobody stuck a poster of Niels Bohr, wild-haired and with his tongue out, on their wall, but the Dane did as much for expanding the range of scientific knowledge in the modern age as Albert Einstein

The prestigious French award is a reliable source of controversy

A transfixing reflection on the plight of asylum seekers should be at the top of Suella Braverman’s watch list

Largely unheralded during her lifetime, Slovakian sculptor Mária Bartuszová is now hailed for her richly feminine visual language

Britain is no longer fit for purpose. It should voluntarily become a colony of India

The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons pushed what was once Britain’s dominant language into three unconnected regions

The World Cup should spark anticipation and joy. But, says one reporter who has covered 12 tournaments, the prospect of Qatar brings only corruption and misery

Another World Cup means another official song of the tournament

Football can often serve as an entry point to learning more about the history, politics and architecture of a country, city or village

Late squash is a welcome source of nourishment and sustenance. Try it with sage, chilli, lemon and pecorino

A collage exposing the dark heart of the British countryside gets a musical makeover. But what will the Europeans make of it?

In a world beset by war, turmoil and climate panic, Schubert’s 200-year-old Winterreise seems more pertinent than ever

Amy Trigg’s play about life with spina bifida is a tremendous piece of writing and acting, but repeats are for television

The fundamental problem with this musical is that it just doesn’t really have any memorable music

The use of the word “guy” to refer to a man came to Britain from the US in the 1950s, but its origins are far from clear

As you’re not having much luck with your emails – perhaps try reading some books instead

Gerard Piqué has played his final match for Barcelona. He may not have been blessed with athletic pace but he always played instinctively

The strange allure of the old communist states remains strong today

The birth of the singles chart signalled the future direction of British pop

This is a wonderful recipe for hake that allows its natural compatriots a place on the plate. After all, fish is always best when cooked simply

The UK Jewish film festival forces us to confront the past, no matter how agonising

A show about shallow people really shouldn’t be so shallow itself. Sadly, this production falls into this trap