Classic opera Aida to dazzle fans at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre

Ellen Kent's spectacular interpretation of the classic opera Aida will feature at the city's recently refurbished venue.

It will star the French soprano Olga Perrier (pictured) and the Russian soprano Ecaterina Danu as Aida with Liza Kadelnik, the celebrated mezzo from the Romanian National Opera, as Amneris.

Venue spokesman Scott Bird said: "Aida, the grandest of all Ellen Kent's operas, returns to the UK with a stunning new traditional production, boasting an impressive new set built by Set-Up Scenery in the UK, who also build sets for the Royal Opera Covent Garden.

"In Aida, the splendour of Egypt is set against the grandeur of the Coliseum of Rome with Ellen Kent's direction influenced by the ancient Greek dramas of Euripides and symbolising the powerful religious hold of the priests of Egypt.

"This tragic story of war, jealousy and revenge at whose heart is the doomed love of the beautiful Ethiopian slave girl, Aida, and the Egyptian hero, Radames, is brought to life in a production set against one of the greatest pieces of music Verdi ever wrote with the well-known arias Celeste Aida, Ritorna Vincitor and the classic Triumphal March featuring a temple dance, cascades of glittering gold and amazing fire performers."

The production will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.