The Glyndebourne festival has defended its production of a children's opera based on the writings of pro-Palestinian American activist Rachel Corrie, killed in Gaza in 2003.

When I Am Old was performed three times last month by members of the Glyndebourne Youth Opera after they spent five days learning about the Middle East conflict.

Organisers said they wanted to show "the courage and ideal

The writer behind the stage and screen versions of the musical Fiddler on the Roof has died at the age of 98.

Playwright Joseph Stein, who won a prestigious Tony award in 1965 for the Broadway hit, had been suffering from prostate cancer. He died in New York.

Born to Polish immigrants to New York, he worked with Woody Allen and Mel Brooks, and wrote for both radio and television.

The composer made just five dollars from his first song but later became an American musical legend.

Turned down for a job by Irving Berlin when he was 20, George Gershwin was told: “You’re meant for big things.” The prophecy came true.

The son of immigrants from Russia, Jacob Gershowitz left school at 15 and began writing popular tunes for Broadway musicals, concert hall shows and operas. In 1927 Fred Astaire took to the stage in Funny Face, a musical Gershwin wrote in collaboration with his elder brother Ira. It was one of several successes they had together.

The Oscar and Pulitzer winning composer Marvin Hamlisch talks to John Nathan about fame, ego and why he’s resigned to not being taken seriously

Marvin Hamlisch only has half an hour to talk. But he is one of life’s talkers and he says more in half an hour than a radio DJ in an entire afternoon.