Elam Rotem, Nic Oatridge

Composer, harpsichord player and bass singer Elam Rotem came into the studio to tell us about composing early baroque opera Joseph and his Brethren for the Profeti della Quinta vocal ensemble, of which he is the director. The CD of the musical drama is about to be launched at a special concert in Binningen this week. Elam told us about composing the whole piece in two months (two months! The English Show is impressed) and what to expect at the concert this Saturday, March 1st.

Nic Oatridge talked to Kiwi Jon about skiing in Mürren. Mürren is a beautiful car-free village with spectacular views over the Jungfrau and some respectable skiing for all standards, including a wonderful black run off the Schilthorn, made famous in the James Bond film, OHMSS, and in the annual Inferno ski race, the world's oldest and longest ski race. Although it is the quietest of the Jungfrau resorts, and the slopes are not as extensive as those at Wengen and Grindelwald, it is more challenging for accomplished skiers and boarders.

This week's music theme was all about hip hop - mostly old-school, some new-style. We featured the Beastie Boys, Coolio, Cypress Hill, EPMD, House of Pain, Labyrinth, Run DMC, and Sugarhill Gang.

Swissgerman Phrase of the Week

If you're walking around Basel - or indeed wandering around a shop in Basel - and are lost and confused, what to do? You could ask: "Wie find ich...?" ("How do I find...?") or "Wo isch...?" ("Where is...?"). For example: "Wie find ich dr Barfi?" (= Barfüsserplatz) or "Wo isch d'Kinderabteilig?" (= children's clothes department).