The latest culture as recommended by our staff

A world elsewhere

Henrietta Bredin visits Oslo's new opera house and finds it impressive, both inside and out

Distinctly lacklustre

Radical light: Italy's Divisionist Painters 1891-1910
National Gallery, until 7 September, Sponsoered by Credit Suisse

What about the Iraqis?

Black Watch
Barbican

Whatever Happened to Cotton Dress Girl?
New End

Divas
Apollo
 

Inspired and thrilling

Le nozze di Figaro
Royal Opera House

Here be monsters

The Mist
15, Nationwide

Oxford treasures

Beyond the Work of One — Oxford College Libraries and their Benefactors 
The Bodleian Library, Oxford, until 1 November, admission free

Whisper or scream

Robin Holloway attends the Spanish premiere of Helmut Lachenmann's Little Match Girl

Whitehouse effect

Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story (BBC2)

Portrait of a director

Mark Glazebrook talks to Sandy Nairne, who explains why the NPG is part of the life of London

Drawing on experience

Theatres of Life: Drawings from the Rothschild Collection, The Wallace Collection, Manchester Square, London W1, until 27 January 2008
Pop Art Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, until 20 January 2008, Sponsored by Lehman Brothers