Flood alert at the Louvre
The Louvre in Paris closed its doors last Thursday, after days of torrential rain raised the level of the adjacent Seine river more than 20ft, said The Art Newspaper. There was no immediate threat to the gallery’s collection, but some 250,000 of its artworks are stored underground, and work began to move them to higher floors: fortunately, the floodwaters started to recede over the weekend. The Musée D’orsay on the opposite bank of the river was also briefly closed as a precaution. Had the flood been any worse, the Louvre would have been “screwed”, said Vice. Some 86,000ft² of its storage is underground – including the entire Islamic collection. When an orange flood alert is issued – as it was last week – staff close the gallery’s watertight doors. If a red alert goes out, there are just 72 hours to evacuate artworks while hundreds of specially trained volunteers try to dam doors and ventilation grids. The Louvre is investing g14m on four water pumps to tackle future disasters.
Television
Pappano’s Italian Double Bill at the Royal Opera House
Two classic short Italian operas – Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci – conducted by Antonio Pappano. Sun 12 June, BBC4 7pm (160mins).
Britain & Europe: The Immigration Question
Mishal Husain looks at the effects of migration from EU countries into the UK. Tue 14 June, BBC2 9pm (60mins).
Born on the Same Day This documentary series compares the lives of well-known people – in this episode, the explorer Ranulph Fiennes – with those of contemporaries who have their own stories to tell. Tue 14 June, C4 9pm (60mins).
Marx: Genius of the Modern World
Historian Bettany Hughes re-examines the life of Karl Marx in the first of a three-part series about thinkers who shaped the modern world. Thur 16 June, BBC4 9pm (60mins).
The New Gypsy Kings
This World goes inside the world of Romania’s super-rich Gypsy pop stars, and explores the impact of a controversial new sound – manele – that has swept the country. Thur 16 June, BBC2 9pm (60mins).
Aladdin (1992) This animated feature from Disney is huge fun, thanks to Robin Williams’s swooping improvisations as the ebullient Genie. Sun 12 June, C4 5pm (105mins).