Kate Molleson talks to Icelandic pianist Vikingur Ólafsson about his concerts at the opening weekend of the Southbank Centre's new season, and about his new double album, From Afar, on which all the pieces are recorded twice, on two different pianos. And, as a new production of Verdi's Aida opens at the Royal Opera House, Kate talks to director Robert Carsen, and to opera historian Flora Willson about how the famous ancient Egypt-set opera by an Italian composer is viewed by Egyptians. We also hear from Egyptian mezzo-soprano Gala El Hadidi, and from Cairo-based journalist Ati Metwaly about music education in Egyptian schools.

Plus, Tom Service visits the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff to investigate Welsh National Opera's new production of Janacek's opera about immortality, The Makropulos Affair.

Producer: Graham Rogers