Bieito's Aida @ Theater Basel - trailer

Bieito's Aida opens tonight at Theater Basel

For all of us who unfortunately cannot go and see the new  Calixto Bieito's show in Basle, the pics taken during the final dress rehearsal come as a mini-consolation (see below).

Note that there will be 19 shows  running until the end of 2010, so if you can squeeze in a trip to Basle...

Michelle De Young --Amneris in this production-- on her website writes:

Working with Calixto is extreme, exhausting and exhilarating. I have definitely had my comfort zones pushed, and enjoy it! It's very violent and sexual. I have fallen in love with both the character and the sing of Amneris.

More pics below

April in Avignon

If you get a chance to listen to Indra Thomas singing LIVE,  please do (YT videos are a bad approximation to what you get from her live performance). I don't like comparing the singers of our time with glories from the past, but Indra's rich timbre makes you think of Leontyne Price -- the resemblance is too strong to ignore. She was my big surprise on the night of that awesome Requiem by Britten at Playel the other night (where I took this pic, btw).

I saw on her website that she'll be singing Aida in Avignon. The tickets are on sale for the matinee of April 25, and the evening of April 27.