Ft Life Of A Song

It premiered at Cannes to cheers and boos, and went on to win the Palm D’Or. Some called it a masterpiece; others dismissed it as overblown nonsense. But what’s so divisive about Terrence Malick’s ambitious new film? It’s a coming-of-age story set in 1950s Texas but it also has long sequences that explore the natural world and the origins of the universe. Does it work? And is its strong religious strain likely to turn off non-believers? Raphael Abraham is joined in the studio by Nick James, editor of Sight & Sound magazine, Peter Aspden, FT arts writer, and Leo Robson, film critic. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What's happening in the world of pop? FT critics Ludovic Hunter-Tilney and Richard Clayton join Neville Hawcock in the studio to look forward to this summer's pop festivals - and to ask whether pop itself has become too backward-looking, as Simon Reynolds argues in his new book Retromania. Are we really addicted to the past? And are YouTube and now the Apple iCloud part of this trend? Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Established in 1895, the Venice Biennale has been called anachronistic - with its focus on separate national pavilions despite the international nature of today's art market. Is it an outdated model? If so, why are more countries than ever taking part this year? It is a series of exhibitions not an art fair - yet Venice has long been a centre of trade. Just how commercial is its Biennale? Jan Dalley puts these questions to Jackie Wullschlager and Peter Aspden, and picks some highlights ahead of the 54th Venice Biennale. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Established in 1895, the Venice Biennale has been called anachronistic - with its focus on separate national pavilions despite the international nature of today's art market. Is it an outdated model? If so, why are more countries than ever taking part this year? It is a series of exhibitions not an art fair - yet Venice has long been a centre of trade. Just how commercial is its Biennale? Jan Dalley puts these questions to Jackie Wullschlager and Peter Aspden, and picks some highlights ahead of the 54th Venice Biennale. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This year 3D films look set to be bigger and more expensive than ever - with Werner Herzog's Cave for Forgotten Dreams just out in the UK, the latest Pirates of the Caribbean installment on its way, and offerings from Spielberg and Scorsese. But has the novelty worn off? Neville Hawcock, deputy arts editor, puts the question to Peter Buckingham of the BFI and Nigel Andrews, FT film critic. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are a lot of musicals moving into London's West End right now – including "Shoes", "Million Dollar Quartet", "Betty Blue Eyes" and "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" - and rumbling in the background is the hoo-ha in New York over "Spiderman". What is the enduring appeal of the musical? Is it more diverse than its critics imagine? And, are musicals a good thing for the theatrical landscape? Jan Dalley talks to Jamie Lloyd, director of the Donmar's "Spelling Bee", and FT theatre critics Ian Shuttleworth and Sarah Hemming. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will Colin Firth take the Oscar for best performance? Will The Social Network win best film? Is awards season trend-spotting a dangerous game? And, what makes an Oscar-winning film? On the eve of the 83rd Academy Awards, Jan Dalley, FT arts editor, puts these questions and others to FT film critics Nigel Andrews and Leo Robson. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does bad language have a place in the opera house? Is the life of a stripper turned reality TV star a suitable subject for operatic treatment? And, can opera find a viable way of reflecting culture today? The day after the premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's "Anna Nicole" at Covent Garden, Andrew Clark, FT classical music critic, puts these questions to Gina Thomas, UK cultural correspondent of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and Laura Battle, FT staff writer and critic. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s awards season in the music industry, with the Brits in London following hot on the heels of the Grammys in LA. The Brits have been revamped this year – but will they lose the unscripted edginess of previous years? How can they compete with the might of the Grammys? And is Tinie Tempah better than Mumford & Sons? FT pop critics Ludo Hunter-Tilney and Richard Clayton join deputy arts editor Neville Hawcock to discuss the hype and the hopefuls. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The launch of Sky Atlantic on February 1 – the result of Sky's exclusive five-year deal with HBO - raises questions about British and American television drama. Is the US - with cult series like The Sopranos, Mad Men and now Boardwalk Empire - enjoying a Golden Age of TV drama? What about Britain? Has its Golden Age been and gone? Jan Dalley, FT arts editor, is joined by Mark Duguid, senior curator of the British Film Institute National Archive, Huw Kennair-Jones, Sky1’s commissioning editor for drama, and John Lloyd, the FT’s television columnist. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the Royal Ballet rehearses Christopher Wheeldon's 'Alice in Wonderland', its first new full-length ballet in 15 years, Peter Aspden talks to Royal Ballet principal Tamara Rojo, Sadler’s Wells artistic director Alistair Spalding and FT critic Clement Crisp. Does 'Alice' represent a return to traditional values? Are ballet companies doing enough to encourage new work? And, what is the relationship between classical ballet and contemporary work? Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the announcement of the BBC's 'Sounds of 2011' list, FT pop critics and panel judges Ludovic Hunter-Tilney and Richard Clayton look back at the year in pop, and forwards to 2011. What do polls like this say about the state of pop? And what do we want our pop music do to - soothe the soul or confront difficult issues? They talk to deputy arts editor Neville Hawcock about their artists and bands of the year: Rumer, Warpaint, Everything Everything, Ellie Goulding, Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire - their band of 2010. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Slapstick; sexual jealousy; and mistaken identity. At its best, farce can be sublime – its intricate plotting and sheer silliness combining to blissful comic effect. But should we take farce seriously, or is is mere lowbrow entertainment? What makes a good farce, and how should a director approach it? On the opening of Georges Feydeau’s 1907 farce 'A Flea in Her Ear' at the Old Vic in London, Jan Dalley puts these questions to its distinguished director, Sir Richard Eyre, who was artistic director of the National Theatre for a decade, and to Sarah Hemming, the FT's theatre critic. Produced by Griselda Murray Brown.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is it acceptable for an artist to have his work produced by others? And what are the implications of the artist as businessman on conceptual art as we know it? As a new generation of artists openly declare themselves marketing men, FT arts editor Jan Dalley discusses the business of art with Jackie Wullschlager, FT visual arts critic, and Peter Aspden, FT arts and culture writer.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is the operatic tradition defunct? Where and how should new operas be put on? And which are the great modern operas? On the opening of Alexander Raskatov's A Dog's Heart at the Coliseum in London, Jan Dalley, FT arts editor, puts these questions to Andrew Clark, the paper's chief classical music critic, and Nicholas Payne, former director of The Royal Opera, the English National Opera and Opera North. Plus, Martin Bernheimer, the FT's classical music critic in New York, discusses what he sees as the conservatism of American opera-goers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The music scene is currently awash with aging rockers and pop groups re-united. Take That, complete with Robbie Williams, will tour next year; space rockers Hawkwind, formed in 1969, tour the UK next month; while Lemmy, born 1945, is currently taking the stage with Motorhead. Whatever happened to “hope I die before I get old”? Aren’t they old enough to know better? Neville Hawcock, deputy arts editor, talks to Peter Aspden, the FT’s arts writer, and Richard Clayton, who regularly reviews pop for the paper.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How best to celebrate Chekhov's 150th anniversary? Sky Arts 2 have chosen to mark the occasion with "chekhov: comedy shorts" - four one-act plays transposed to the small screen, with a cast of well-known comedians including Johnny Vegas and Steve Coogan. But do they make good television? In this week's arts podcast, Neville Hawcock, the FT's deputy arts editor, talks to the paper's theatre critic, Sarah Hemming, and television columnist, John Lloyd, about the venture.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been a big week for contemporary British art. First the opening of the British Art Show 7 in Nottingham, then the second instalment of Newspeak at the Saatchi Gallery in London. To round it off, on Sunday Channel 4 will show “Modern Times”, the fifth in its series The Genius of Britain, this time presented by Janet Street-Porter. Peter Aspden, FT arts writer, and John Lloyd, FT television columnist, discuss art and celebrity: Charles Saatchi, Damien Hirst and the inimitable Janet Street-Porter. FT art critic Jackie Wullschlager reports on the British Art Show. Does it really represent the art of the nation? Produced by Griselda Murray Brown  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the final object is revealed, FT arts editor Jan Dalley talks to Peter Aspden about the significance of the BBC Radio 4 series 'A History of the World in 100 Objects' presented by Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From formaldehyde sheep to giant horses, Simon Schama - in this recording of his FT Frieze week lecture - traces contemporary animal attractions to great works in the history of art  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.