Music meets football: Lara Melda plays for Street Child World Cup

Pianist Lara Melda, the 2010 BBC Young Musician of the Year (when she won she was still known as Lara Omerogu), is giving a concert at St James, Piccadilly, in support of Street Child World Cup, a UK-based charity supporting the rights of street children. The evening - tomorrow! - aims to raise awareness and funds for street children worldwide ahead of the second-ever Street Child World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in March 2014.

Lara is joined by 2012 BBC Young Musician of the Year keyboard finalist Martin Bartlett (piano), Martin Musical Fund prizewinner Harry Gilfillan (cello), and former Yehudi Menuhin student Tatiana Gilfillan (violin). Music includes Handel, Poulenc, Debussy, Saint-Saens, Chopin and Rachmaninov.

Lara says: “I believe that no child should have to live on the street and that is why I am delighted to use my music to highlight this fantastic cause. The Street Child World Cup is more than a game, it gives street children an international platform to demand their rights."

Book now at: 020 7381 0441.

Happy 21st, Benjamin Grosvenor!

That Andy Murray of British pianism, Benjamin Grosvenor, is 21 today. We wish him the happiest of happy birthdays and can't wait to hear the new album he's apparently recording right now, up in Suffolk. (PS - anyone spot Mitsuko Uchida in the slebs rows at the Wimbledon final yesterday?)

In the meantime, here he is in performance last year, playing Rachmaninov's Etude-Tableau Op.39 No.5.

On your feet! It's Proms time

The sun is shining, Andy Murray's in the final and next week it's time for the Proms to begin. This season is stuffed full of Wagner operas and I have just one word to start you off: footwear. My guide to how to make the most of the Proms is in today's Independent, along with my personal pick of ten unmissable events. And yes, there will be Korngold.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/on-your-feet-for-the-2013-proms-8687389.html

Jonas to the rescue!

The Munich Opera Festival, which is in full swing for July, is doing wall-to-wall Verdi and Wagner this year. Last night it was Lohengrin. The tenor went ill. Who can you get to replace that at short notice? Hmm, how about that local bloke who knows the role?

Text from my spy says simply: "Jonas sensation, audience went nuts."

Kaufmaniacs should log on tomorrow when the Staatsoper is webcasting Il trovatore, with JK as Manrico, a role he's just been singing for the first time, with Anja Harteros - another local - as Leonora. My spy says that's sounding a bit good too. Webcast is free and starts at 7pm over there (so 1 hr earlier in UK and 6 hrs earlier in NY).

Win a weekend at the Lucerne Festival!

The Lucerne Festival may have started life on what used to be Wagner's lawn, but it hasn't let the grass grow under its feet... Read my guide to this idyllic summer escape and enter the competition to win a dream weekend, over at Sinfinimusic.com:
http://sinfinimusic.com/uk/features/2013/06/lucerne-festival-guide/