The Connoisseur’s Diary

2nd October
New York: Opera
Verdi’s Aida opens at the Met, conducted by Daniele Gatti, former principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Lithuanian soprano Violeta Urmana sings the title role.

4th October
Paris: Racing
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat race held at the Longchamp course and one of the most fashionable race meetings in the calendar. It is one of the four French Classics and has a prize of €4 million, the second biggest prize on the turf after the Japan Cup (on 29 November).

4th October
Japanese Grand Prix
This year’s race takes place at the Suzuka Circuit, the only figure-of-eight F1 track and one of the most challenging. The 2008 race was won by Spain’s Fernando Alonso for Renault.

9th October
Cheltenham: Literature Festival
This year marks the festival’s 60th anniversary. Guests include Sebastian Faulks, Hermione Lee, Jeremy Paxman, Judi Dench, Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, Sophie Dahl and the Man Booker Prize winner (to be announced on 6 October).

13th October

Glyndebourne on Tour
The company will visit six venues staging performances of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Verdi’s Falstaff and Janácek’s Jenufa. The tour starts at Glyndebourne and will finish at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth on 5 December.

16th October
Brazilian Grand Prix
The penultimate grand prix in this year’s calendar takes place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo. Last year’s race was won by Brazilian Felipe Massa for Ferrari.

17th October
Malta: Yacht Race
The Rolex Middle Sea Race covers one of the most beautiful courses in the world. Yachts race 606 nautical miles, setting off from the Valletta Grand Harbour in Malta. They then sail around Sicily, through the Straits of Messina and back again. The event is hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

22nd October
Battersea Park: Affordable Art
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Affordable Art Fair now takes place biannually in London and annually in Bristol, Paris, Amsterdam and New York.