AUSTRIA

MUSIC/PEOPLE: The world's classical music capital, Vienna, honours the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson with a one-off tribute September 26. Though the official line-up has yet to be announced, names such as Madonna, U2, Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie have been suggested to perform his biggest hits in the splendid setting of Schoenbrunn Palace. Tickets on sale on the official website. www.tribute2009.com

ART: From September 2 to November 1, the Essl Museum in Klosterneuburg, near Vienna, offers a new look at Indian art at "Chalo! India" (Chalo means "Let's go" in Hindi). Over 100 works by 27 artists show the scope of contemporary Indian art, from paintings, to prints and photographs, providing a glimpse of "India now,” according to curator Akiko Miki. www.essl.museum

MUSIC/OPERA: Vienna's popular opera (Volksoper) launches its 2009-2010 season with a full-day celebration September 5, featuring rehearsals, backstage tours, make-up for children and a prop and costume fleamarket. The Volksoper will also present highlights of its new production, Carl Zeller's operetta "Der Vogelhandler" (The Bird Seller), directed by Michael Schilhan and conducted by Henrik Nanasi. www.volksoper.at

ART/MUSIC: As part of its programme as European Capital of Culture 2009, the Austrian city of Linz is organising a show originally titled "See this Sound" which examines the relation between image and sound over the past 100 years. At the Lentos Kunstmuseum to January 1, 2010. www.lentos.at

BRITAIN

THEATRE/MUSIC: World premiere of Ben Hur Live, a spectacular arena show featuring chariot racing and gladiators with music by former Police drummer Stewart Copeland.

At the O2 Arena from September 17 to September 20 before touring Europe. www.benhurlive.com/



MUSIC: Last Night of the Proms, the concert which closes the annual festival of classical music organised by the BBC. This year's final concert on September 12 at the Royal Albert Hall features pieces by Handel, Purcell and Haydn in what is traditionally a celebratory atmosphere. www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2009/

HISTORY: "Moctezuma" explores the Aztec civilisation through its last elected ruler, Moctezuma II, who reigned from 1502 to 1520 AD. At the British Museum from September 24 to January 24, 2010. www.britishmuseum.org

FASHION: British Fashion Week shows spring/summer 2010 collections. Organisers say the event could be the highest profile for several years, following the return of Matthew Williamson from showing in New York, while Stella McCartney will show her Adidas sports range. From September 18 to September 22. wwww.londonfashionweek.co.uk

DENMARK

ART: "The World is Yours," a contemporary art show with works by 24 artists, including Elliot Hundley of the United States, Sebastian Diaz Morales of Argentina, Simon Evans of Britain and Chiharu Shiota of Japan. At the Louisiana museum of modern art. September 5 to January 10, 2010. www.louisiana.dk

FRANCE

FILM/PEOPLE: For the first time, France is offering an exhibition on star French actress and sex symbol turned animal rights activist .

From September 29 to January 31, the show at Boulogne-Billancourt on the fringes of Paris explores Bardot's many facets and traces her impact thanks to film excerpts, rare photographs and portraits painted by the likes of Van Dongen and Warhol.
www.boulognebillancourt.com

MUSIC/THEATRE: Bertolt Brecht's mythical Berliner Ensemble returns for the first time in half a century to Paris to perform The Threepenny Opera at the Theatre de la Ville, staged by US director Bob Wilson from September 15 to 18. www.theatredelaville-paris.com

MUSIC/OPERA: The new head of the Paris Opera, Nicolas Joel, launches his first season at the prestigious institution by staging Gounod's "Mireille,” starring Franco-Albanian soprano Inva Mula. From September 14 to October 14. www.operadeparis.fr

ART: This season's must-see Paris show highlights Pierre-Auguste Renoir's lesser-known 20th century works as well as his influence on artists of the time. Some 100 works by Renoir (1841-1919) as well as others by Picasso, Matisse, Maillol and Bonnard. At the Grand Palais from September 23 to January 4. www.grandpalais.fr


GERMANY

HISTORY: 500 artefacts amassed by British explorer James Cook in three trips to the then-uncharted Pacific Ocean in the 18th century go on show at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn, together with paintings and drawings, ship models and navigation instruments. To February 28. www.kah-bonn.de/index_e.htm

ART: 103 works by 19th and 20th century artists including Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Auguste Rodin from the Kasser Art Foundation on display at the Schaezlerpalais in Augsburg for "Irdische Paradiese" ("Paradises on Earth"). To November 22. www.irdische-paradiese.de

ART: Some 130 leading galleries from the world's main art centres present their stars and newcomers at Art Forum Berlin, including this year some younger galleries. September 24-27. www1.messe-berlin.de/vip8_1/website/Internet/Internet/www.art-forum-berlin/englisch/index.html

MUSIC: The International Military Festival features marching bands from around the world on Moscow's Red Square. From September 5 to 10. www.kremlin-military-tatoo.ru

SPAIN

PHOTOGRAPHY: "China: portrait of a country" documents the country's history from 1949 until the present, from the declaration of the People's Republic to the Beijing Olympic Games. Until 31 October at the Casa Asia de Madrid. www.casaasia.es

PHOTOGRAPHY: Catch the last days of "Literary Madrid" with 100 black and white photographs and 60 colour prints documenting memorable quotations about the city. At the city museum until September 20. www.munimadrid.es

MUSIC/DANCE: Broadway theatrical show "Celtic Legends" combining Irish dance moves with the traditional sounds of Irish folk music performed live by five musicians playing the button box accordion, fiddle, Uillean pipes, flute and guitar. Teatro Nuevo Apolo. September 3-13. www.celticlegends.net

SWEDEN

PHOTOGRAPHY: "Albinos, in the Shadow of the Sun" is a show by award-winning Swedish photographer Johan Baevman on Tanzania's Albinos, targeted for their body parts which are used in witchcraft and for lucky charms. To September 27 at Galleri Kontrast in Stockholm. www.gallerikontrast.se