cairo Opera House prepares for Aida in the open + The opening of the European Opera Centre + Myfanwy Piper obituary 12 News features Andrew Stewart discusses the pros and cons of televising the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition + Della Couling talks to one-time cowboy, tenor Hans Aschenbach 14 New theatre, please Graeme Kay reveals new plans at the Norwegian Opera, Fes tival Previews : Austria (17) + Portugal (19) + Sweden, Italy (20) + France (21) + UK, Germany (27) + Finland (31) 35 People In the news Antnollty MichaelsMoore is due to sing his first Macbeth + Julian Smith stands still long enough to talk about the Cardiff Competition + Catherine Mackintosh Hegarty is the new Norina in ENO's Don Pasquale + Director ofWNO's forth-coming production of Simon Boccanegra , David Pountney, talks about what it means to him + Bass-baritone Alan Held talks about Palestrina and beyond + Yes and no- tenor Marcello Giordani explains why he hes itated about working for Georg Solti + London Opera Players founder, Elisabeth Parry te lls us how it all began 43 Opera guide Noel Goodwin ta kes a look at Ve rdi 's Simon Boccanegra , which comes in two handy versions 46 Singers of the century Two great dames: John Steane features Renata Scotto and Eva Turner 50 Cover feature Robert Hartford reviews the first night of Pfitzner's Palestrlna at Covent Garden's Royal Opera House 61 Korngold Centenary Brendan Carrolllooks back at the work and career of composer Erich Komgold who started as a child prodigy 88 Screen test John Steane reviews the Bel Canto li brary of videos