Aida Again!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:06:37 GMT

Zandra Rhodes, the shocking grand old lady of British fashion, film directors including Anthony Minghella, and some of Britain's most fashionable video artists are riding to the rescue of financially troubled English National Opera.

In her first project for British opera, Rhodes has designed outrageously coloured costumes for a new production of Aida, Verdi's Egyptian extravaganza with its vast chorus of Hebrew slaves, to be staged at ENO's home at the Coliseum in the autumn.

Rhodes, who made her name with radical designs in London in the Swinging Sixties, is now 66 but has recently become a convert to opera. In the last few years she has designed costumes for The Magic Flute and The Pearl Fishers for San Diego Opera, where she now spends half the year. Her designs for Aida were unveiled at Houston Grand Opera, which is co-producing it, last week.

One critic there said Rhodes's designs were so brightly coloured "opera fans may wish to take their sunglasses".

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Archaeologist at Large: Music

Aida Again!