Aida production has successful start with Mubarak attending

Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak and his wife attended yesterday the inaugural performance of Verdi's masterpiece opera Aida, which was staged in an open-air theatre in front of Hatshpsut temple in Luxor.

The 5-day run of Aida performances is being covered by representatives from world media and attended by 18,000 spectators, and the booking rate has averaged between 60-70 percent.

Luxor airport is expected to receive up to 150 regular and charter flights, and private businessmen and politicians attended the performance, Al Ahram daily said today October 13.