Guardian Music — One of the greatest Italian opera singers, noted for her versatile and distinctive voiceGiulietta Simionato, who has died aged 99, was one of the greatest Italian opera singers of her generation. She was a beautiful woman and a vivid actor. Like her ... more info

Guardian Music — Royal Opera House; Young Vic; The Place, LondonDavid McVicar's chaotic new Aida has its heart, if not all the notes, in the right placeWhen the Royal Opera House warns of "partial nudity", you can assume it's as severe a threat as that given recently... more info

Guardian Music — McVicar has made himself the go-to director for opera houses wanting to renew their stagings of core worksThink of Verdi's grandest of grand operas Aida and you probably think of pyramids, palm trees, art deco headdresses and maybe even a few elephan... more info

Guardian Music — Royal Opera House, LondonYou can take Aida out of Egypt, but can you take Egypt out of Aida? David McVicar clearly thinks so. His new production for the Royal Opera contains no traces of the ancient Egyptiana that provides the decor for traditional n... more info

Perez Hilton — After spending Easter Sunday with the kiddies, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt flew to Bosnia to bring attention to the 117,000 refugees who have not been able to return home despite the fact that the war ended 15 years ago. According to Aida Prljaca, ... more info

Guardian Music — David McVicar has a simple formula for tackling Verdi's Egyptian epic – out with the pyramids, in with pathos.'When Margaret Thatcher was on Desert Island Discs, the only piece of classical music she chose was the Triumphal March," director D... more info

ContactMusic — SIR ELTON JOHN is planning a return to the stage - the ROCKET MAN is ready to write another musical.The singer has previously composed scores for theatre hits Aida and... more info

The Telegraph — With topical jokes about Gordon Brown, Fascinating Aida offer the sort of back-biting counterblasts which the downtrodden masses crave. Rating: * * * * more info

Perez Hilton — Just like her legs, Tiger Wood's mistress Jaimee Grubbs couldn't keep her mouth shut about her affair with the golfer. Season one contestant Aida Menaska reveals: "We all knew about Jaimee's affair with Tiger Woods because she told us." And she even ... more info

Guardian Music — The Britain's Got Talent celebrity has some way to go to catch up with the West End star, notes Laura BartonThis week, the new album by Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle became the fastest-selling worldwide debut for a female artist, bringing her... more info