* Melissa Leo, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series, looked more like a circus lion-tamer on the red carpet in coat tails, shiny silver trousers and bizarre neckerchief.

On winning the Concorso Lirico in 1952, Veronica Dunne vowed to helpyoung singers in their careers, says Jo Kerrigan

MYLES Duffy (Letters, Sept 13) has described an inclination by Senator David Norris to re-enter the presidential contest as “blinkered vanity that disregards other material considerations”.

Luciano Pavarotti’s voice rang out a final time today inside Modena’s cathedral in northern Italy, as a recording of the great tenor singing with his father highlighted a funeral attended by family, dignitaries and close friends.

Verdi’s “Ave Maria” wafted through Modena’s cathedral today as the world bade farewell to Luciano Pavarotti with a funeral close to his classical roots, attended by family, dignitaries and close friends and followed by admirers around the world.

Steven Spielberg will join filmmaker Zhang Yimou in designing the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

RENATA TEBALDI, the Italian soprano who was one of the biggest stars at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Italy’s La Scala, died yesterday. She was 82.

Renata Tebaldi, an Italian soprano who was one of the biggest stars at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Italy’s La Scala, died today, her doctor said. She was 82.

US president George Bush toasted Oscar-winning actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Grammy-honoured singer Paul Simon and actor James Earl Jones, today for their achievements in the performing arts.

Academy Award-winning actress Elizabeth Taylor and Grammy-honoured singer Paul Simon were among five stars from the world of performing arts being honoured for their career achievements.

Elizabeth Taylor, James Earl Jones and Sir Paul McCartney will pick up awards at the 25th annual honours of the John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.