Almeida Opera.

27 June-23 July 2006. The Almeida Theatre opens its 15th season of modern opera and new music theatre with Les Aveugles (The Blind) by Swiss composer Xavier Dayer, performed by the Paris Operas acclaimed Atelier Lyrique (27-28 Jun). Les Aveugles is based on Maeterlinck's symbolist masterpiece and tells the story of a stranded group of blind people awaiting the return of their guide. Other highlights include The Original Chinese Conjuror A Musical Diversion Suggested by the Lives of Chung Ling Soo, with music by Raymond Yiu (1, 2 & 7 July), and the British premiere of a new opera by Michael Nyman and Michael Hastings entitled Love Counts( 14, 17, 19, 21 & 23 July). Early evening performances and cabaret-inspired music theatre is also on offer, including a concert entitled The Sound of Colour: Kandinsky and Schoenberg 1911-1912 and culminating in a performance of Pierrot Lunaire (1912) with singer Sally Burgess (5 July). See website for times and events. Admission 29.50-6.