Opera singer's music is razor sharp

There is nothing that Europe's leading lawyers like more, it would seem, than letting their hair down to the sound of music.

At the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) plenary meeting in Dublin, the hosts apparently wheeled out a karaoke machine after dinner - yes, classy indeed - but not too many lawyers got a chance to test their vocal skills.

A visitor from Belarus (which is not a CCBE member as yet) apparently took centre stage, announced solemnly that she would be singing 'sad Russian songs', and went on to do just that at some length, defying attempts to snatch the microphone from her hand.

Last weekend, rather than pay homage to local Bergen hero Edward Grieg (although they gave out free Grieg CDs to all delegates), the Norwegian Bar Association brought in a jolly opera singer to entertain, which reached a climax when he acted out the Barber of Seville.

Former CCBE president Rupert Wolff (above), the urbane vice-president of the Austrian Bar Association, was one of the unfortunate delegates to find himself playing a central role.

Fortunately, the opera singer's voice and wit was sharper than his knife.