A triumph for biodynamism, and opera

At last night’s Decanter/Christie’s fundraising dinner for the Vilar Young Artists programme in the chilly but glamorous Vilar Floral Hall at London’s Royal Opera House was a succession of luminaries of the wine world presenting some pretty smart wines with the dinner, after stunning performances by Dame Felicity Lott and Simon Keenlyside, the current charismatic Papageno, accompanied by musical director Antonio Pappano, no less, who had been rehearsing Walküre all day. Bidding for special wine and opera lots was furious and total of about £100,000 after expenses was raised to continue the Covent Garden tradition of bringing on younger artists.