THE MAGAZINE
Milan’s List: Graphic Novels
Looking for graphic novels that go beyond hype and bestseller lists? Graphic artist Milan Hulsing shares a personal, sharply curated selection—from canonical classics to visually daring, lesser-known works—explaining what makes each one worth your time and attention.
Hearing Climate Change: The Sound of Disappearing Notes
What does biodiversity loss sound like? By altering Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture note by note, a composer and an economist turn climate data into music—revealing how the silencing of nature can finally be heard.
The Batsheva Dance Company: “MOMO has Two Souls”
Ohad Naharin’s MOMO stages a quiet struggle between individuality and collective identity, turning movement into a reflection on power, belonging, and emotional survival. Read on for a deeply personal response to one of Batsheva’s most unsettling works.
Making Modernism: Trailblazing Female Artists at London’s Royal Academy of Arts
Four women helped shape modernism in early 20th-century Germany: Paula Modersohn-Becker, Käthe Kollwitz, Gabriele Münter, and Marianne Werefkin. But history largely sidelined them. This article introduces the artists behind London’s Royal Academy exhibition and explains why their work still matters today.
5 Things to Know about Bronislava Nijinska
From Les Noces to gender-defying choreography, discover five essential facts about Bronislava Nijinska, one of ballet’s most influential modern innovators. Read more on TWoA.
Pigs for the New Year
Why pigs? From medieval symbols of prosperity to German marzipan traditions, pigs have long been a sign of luck, abundance, and fresh beginnings. This light-hearted New Year’s piece brings together artworks by Niko Pirosmani, Franz Marc, and George Morland to wish you a year full of joy, humour, and good fortune.
Violinist Amelia Febles Díaz: Classical Music in Cuba
Cuba is world-famous for its rhythms, but its classical music tradition is just as rich. Cuban violinist Amelia Febles Díaz reflects on growing up in Cuba’s rigorous music schools, blending Mozart with mambo, and why reconnecting with her own musical roots ultimately made her a stronger artist.
Five Facts about Alexei Ratmansky’s New Ballet ‘Tchaikovsky Overtures’
Why does Alexei Ratmansky’s new ballet feel like three full productions in one night? Drawing on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Shakespearean overtures, Tchaikovsky Overtures transforms Hamlet, The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet into a richly layered choreographic meditation on emotion, memory, and movement.
A Cosy Christmas Day
Baking, Christmas music, favourite films, and quiet winter rituals—this cosy guide is all about slowing down and enjoying the small joys that make Christmas feel truly magical. Read on for more.
Interview: Mezzo-Soprano Nina Vinther on Female Power, Sustainability and the Magic of Stories
How can music help change the world? In a conversation with TWoA, Nina Vinther reflects on female representation, sustainable artistry, and the magic of storytelling—revealing how culture can turn facts into action.
In Conversation with Julian MacKay: Social Media and the Arts
Is social media helping or harming young artists? In this conversation, Julian MacKay reflects on branding, visibility, and responsibility in the digital age—revealing why respect, quality, and restraint matter as much online as they do on stage.
Mayerling: The Tragedy of Crown Prince Rudolf
Dark, obsessive, and psychologically intense, Mayerling remains one of the most disturbing ballets in the repertory. This article explores how Kenneth MacMillan transformed a real imperial tragedy into a gripping modern classic—and why it still shocks audiences today.
Interview: Principal Dancer Julian MacKay, Bayerisches Staatsballett
From Montana to Moscow and now Munich, Julian MacKay speaks candidly about training at the Bolshoi, performing with the Mikhailovsky Theatre, navigating global ballet politics, and finding his artistic home at the Bayerisches Staatsballett.
Soprano Chen Reiss’s Top 5 Seasonal Music Pieces
From Bach’s radiant Christmas Oratorio to Handel, Tchaikovsky, and even Bing Crosby, international soprano Chen Reiss reveals her five favourite seasonal pieces—music that captures the joy, reflection, and warmth of the festive season.
Julian MacKay: Advice for Young Dancers and Musicians - “Embrace Uncertainty!”
Training for a career in dance or music means living with doubt, competition, and constant change. Principal dancer Julian MacKay reflects on finding the right environment, building resilience, and why uncertainty isn’t a weakness—but a vital part of becoming an artist.
Gift Guide for Artsy Teens
Looking for thoughtful gifts for creative teens? From music and ballet essentials to art supplies with personality, this gift guide rounds up inspiring ideas for artsy minds — perfect for wish lists, stocking fillers, and last-minute finds.
Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope
At Tate Modern, the monumental woven worlds of Magdalena Abakanowicz unfold as environments rather than objects. From towering Abakans to organic, breathing forms, this exhibition invites us to reflect on humanity’s fragile relationship with nature, history, and the collective body.
Chineke! Orchestra’s Betania Johnny (19, violinist): Expand the Picture!
Violinist Betania Johnny has grown up alongside the groundbreaking Chineke! Foundation, helping to redefine who classical music is for. In this TWoA interview, she reflects on practice, purpose, and why expanding the repertoire—and the picture—matters more than ever.
Betania Recommends: Composers
Looking to expand your classical music repertoire? In this TWoA guide, violinist Betania Johnny highlights powerful works by George Walker, William Dawson, Florence Price, and Jessie Montgomery—four composers reshaping how we listen today. Discover why their music deserves a place on your playlist.
The Five Moons: Legendary Native American Ballerinas
In celebration of Native American Heritage Day, TWoA pays tribute to five Native American ballerinas who shaped American and French ballet: Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, Rosella Hightower, Yvonne Chouteau, and Moscelyne Larkin—the legendary Five Moons whose legacy still shapes ballet today.