Lott's supple, silvery voice is tailormade for this repertoire, and she embraces the daffiness of the title role with infectious glee. Beuron's light, toothsome tenor made easy work of Fritz's vertiginous lines, while Piau was, as ever, a model soubrette. The acting, which was beautifully captured in well-directed close-ups, was excellent. ("Do you know why we're fighting?" asks Franck Legu?ne's Baron Puck.

"Not anymore!" replies Fran?s Le Roux's trigger-happy General Boum.) Pelly has neatly illustrated the knock-on effect of Offenbach's subtle satire on the militarism of an inbred aristocracy, and, having made his point, moves into the crazed comedy of ranks raised and lowered with consummate ease.Musically, La Grande Duchesse was pure delight. That the corpses get up and dance within minutes scarcely matters. The period between Christmas and New Year is always a lean one for classical music lovers. With the notable exception of the Wigmore Hall's annual New Year's Eve programme from The King's Consort, Britain's classical music venues were dominated by the triple-time schmaltz of 19th-century Vienna this week: a jolly good reason to stay at home and watch television instead (though heaven help the music lover whose viewing was restricted to the terrestrial channels). He works hard and he has his ups and downs, but he's almost the perfect pop star." (Simon Cowell)Hate mail: "Sure there are tunes you can hum, passable vocals and what might even be classed as a clever lyric, but to see Robbie hailed as a Britpop institution alongside The Beatles, Tom Jones or Oasis is cringeworthy." (Daily Mirror). It's boring to say the least." (Urban Wire magazine)Queen: 'We Are the Champions' (1977)Fan mail: "For total and utter unadulterated, no-holds-barred entertainment, you just cannot beat [Queen]. Christ on a bike, those guys know how to put on a show." (Justin Hawkins, The Darkness)Hate mail: "Queen were always the most wildly over-rated band in the world." (Tony Parsons)Robbie Williams: 'Angels' (1998)Fan mail: "If there were more Robbie Williamses in this business it would be a great business to be in now.

He said recently: "It pees me off because everyone thinks Guy penned 'Let Me Entertain You' and 'Angels', but they're my songs."Chambers has acknowledged the contribution: "In the main he was responsible for the lyrics and melody, and I did the music It was very equal. Rob knew exactly what he wanted to say, and how he wanted to say it."Other prize contenders, which will be voted for by Radio 2 listeners, include "Dry Your Eyes" by The Streets, David Bowie's "Heroes", "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash and Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart".Stuart Maconie, who presents Radio 2's Critical List, was not convinced "Angels" was worthy of being ranked with the greats."It isn't my idea of a great song but I can see what people might see in it. At this rate, with England's most experienced centres, Mike Tindall and Will Greenwood, hors de combat, it is not too fantastical to suggest Tait could emulate Wilkinson and appear in the Six Nations' Championship before his 19th birthday - it falls the day after the opening fixture against Wales - although alternatives exist in the shape of his club-mate Jamie Noon, Olly Barkley, Stuart Abbott, Ollie Smith and the much-maligned Henry Paul."I feel I have adjusted OK to senior rugby," said Tait, showing no sign of being dazzled by the limelight. The rest of the plan was to bring Tait on gently, in the same way and at the same club as Andrew did with Jonny Wilkinson six or seven years ago, but precocious ability and injuries to Mark Mayerhofler, Epi Taione and Michael Stephenson dictated otherwise. Tait has made 12 first-team appearances in the Premiership, Heineken Cup and Powergen Cup (his next will be against Sale in the Premiership today) and ticked more boxes than David Blunkett on a visa form."His talent overcomes any suggestion of doing too much, too soon," said Pepper, a former First Division flanker with Harlequins among others. I have to say that I don't understand what 'I'm loving angels instead' actually means."FAN MAIL AND HATE MAILThe Clash: 'Rock the Casbah' (1982)Fan mail: "The incendiary lyrics of The Clash inspired 1,000 more bands to spring up and challenge their elders." (Billy Bragg)Hate mail: "They were beholden to clich?their every discount riff, 'spontaneous' guitar demolition and mucus-filled roar plucked from the lichen betwixt the flagstones of 60s rock." (The Guardian)The Streets: 'Dry Your Eyes' (2004)Fan mail: "Half Dostoevsky's 'Notes From Underground', half Samuel Pepys." (Professor John Sutherland of UCL)Hate mail: "The entire tone of his music is completely idle, as if he couldn't care less about who or what would be listening. Williams is proud of the song, but irritated that many people assume it was written by his former co-writer, Guy Chambers, from whom he split after a row about money.

The band have been included for their hit "We Are the Champions".Although "Angels" peaked at number four in early 1998, it was a consistent seller, shifting more than a million copies. The Clash, Joy Division and The Jam are also said to be in line for the award.Williams, 30, is the favourite to win with "Angels", the end-of-party anthem which shot him to stardom as a solo singer. In November he was chosen to be inducted into Channel 4's Music Hall of Fame as the greatest act of the 1990s, and in a Virgin Radio poll published last week, "Angels" was named fifth-greatest song of all time and the highest ranking track to be eligible for the Brits award.One potential challenger, Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", is out of the running for the award because it was released in 1975. Once dismissed as no more than "the fat dancer" from boy band Take That, Robbie Williams will this week be named in a select group of artists vying to be recognised as the creator of the greatest modern song by a Briton.

Poach for 10 minutes in the stock, then roast in an oven at 180C (356F) for 15 minutes.For the ketchup, mix all the ingredients in a pan. Reduce for 30 minutes, pass through a sieve.To serve, cut the chicken into three and serve with ketchup and chips.. Pour into a Martini glass until half full, add the jelly and cool.For the chantilly cream, split the vanilla pod and scrape out the centre Mix with the sugar and cream Use as a garnish.. 4 chicken breasts 200g Parma ham 125g/4fl oz pitted black olives 100g/31/2oz ricotta cheese 1 medium tomato 40g/2oz sundried tomatoes 25g/1oz onion 8 basil leaves 2 sprigs thyme 2 sprigs tarragon 1 clove garlic, crushed Chicken stock, for poaching 4 chicken breasts 200g Parma ham 125g/4fl oz pitted black olives 100g/31/2oz ricotta cheese 1 medium tomato 40g/2oz sundried tomatoes 25g/1oz onion 8 basil leaves 2 sprigs thyme 2 sprigs tarragon 1 clove garlic, crushed Chicken stock, for poaching For the ketchup 6 plum (vine) tomatoes 2 chopped shallots 6 basil leaves 2 cloves of whole garlic 2tbsp balsamic vinegar 2tbsp sugar 1 sprig thymeChop the herbs and mix with the ricotta, garlic, olives and tomato Stuff into the chicken breasts and wrap in Parma ham. Add the gelatine and cool.For the panacotta, whisk together all the ingredients and add the gelatine. We want to make it as different as possible."While the standards remain unimpeachably high, there's nevertheless an informal simplicity about Room's approach. With its claret colour-scheme, the restaurant combines classic hotel styling - wood panelling, moulded ceilings, big fireplaces - with contemporary design elements such as oversized lampshades and plastic chairs.Head chef at the Glasgow Room is Chris Draper, whose prior experience included four-star hotels in Edinburgh.