[correction, 7 March: music played for the encoreI have rarely been so blown away at a classical music concert as I was last night, 2 March, at Geneva's Victoria Hall. Mélodie Zhao turned composer Frédéric Chopin's complete 27 Etudes into something I didn't know the collection had the capacity to be: magnificently passionate. The romantic music, which in some pianists' hands verges on the saccharine, last night would have made the composer proud, I feel certain. It's easy to go into a Zhao concert being impressed by her technical skills and poise on stage as a 15-year-old, but Tuesday night it was impossible to come out even remembering her age, for her stage performance and the music that filled the hall were those of a mature artist. "She's a genius," said the woman next to me, coming out of the hall. "Unbelievable!" another exclaimed to her companion.

I've heard her practice and I have the excellent CDs with 24 Etudes, made when she was only 13, but seeing her perform live, and with two years more musical maturity, transformed the music. Happy 200th birthday, Mr Chopin!

Two strong ovations from the crowd brought her back to play Chopin's Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise Brillante op.22., where she displayed yet more of her dazzling talent.

Melodie Zhao signing autographs after Chopin concert, 2 March 2010, Victoria Hall, Geneva

We all looked drained as we flocked into the lobby, for watching Zhao in person is like being a privileged spectator as shifting winds and sunlight dance over an open sea. To my great surprise, the young pianist was already seated at a table and signing autographs for a large crowd, with an enthusiasm and energy that didn’t show any strain from what has to have been a physically daunting performance!

Background: GenevaLunch feature on Mélodie Zhao

Review in Le Temps (Fre)

Kudos to what is now known as the tenthousandmiles (Mao, Motorbikes and a Yak) team, putting together a documentary on their adventures riding from Lhasa in Tibet to Shanghai on motorcycles: Global Times in Beijing has just published a feature article on them. GenevaLunch hosted an event in September 2009 with Liam Bates talking about the trip (he occasionally contributes travel stories to GenevaLunch).

Two notable writers with strong Swiss connections will be leading a four-day writing workshop in Geneva offered by UK publishers Faber & Faber 25-28 March. “Writing Other Lives” is a course “about writing across languages, cultures, countries and borders, writing while living other lives,” notes Gappah on her web site. The cost is £500/CHF830 and will take place at the Société de Lecture in Geneva.

Gappah, who lives in Geneva, was recently awarded the Guardian First Book Award 2009. Christopher Hope, who lives in France, is the author of Kruger’s Alp, among other works.

The course has room for 15 writers. Details

Peter Hobden was an IT man at the ICRC (International Red Cross) for 25 years but not so long ago and, like many others in these tough economic times, he made a complete career change.

In fairness, he did it well ahead of the global financial crisis, in 2001, and mainly because of a long love affair with images. He set  up his own company, creating calendars for Carouge and Geneva, but in 2005 he turned his hand to painting, taking his love of images to another level.

Some 200 people showed up 3 June for the opening of his new show at the Espace Delafontaine in Carouge.

His work is both familiar because of its everyday Geneva area scenes and taunting, because the richness of the canvases makes you sense that this familiar world hides another, more emotionally coloured one.

Forty of his acrylics on canvas are on display until 13 June at the Espace.

Daily, 15:00-19:00 and Wednesday 15:00-21:00
(or by appointment, tel: +41 79 310 6606
Espace Delafontaine (Galerie de la Ville de Carouge)
Rue Jacques-Dalphin 24, 1227 Carouge
Free entry

More information on Hobden and his art

Photos: top, grains nearing harvest, St Prex and bottom, Tara and a freshly cut Swiss meadow.

I went to bed last night thinking about Sting. I’m probably not the first woman to do that. The man does have appeal. I went to bed thinking about why I deserve free tickets to go see him 16 September in Geneva. I can think of a hundred reasons why, starting with: because I deserve a nice present, no strings attached and no work to get it. It was the end of a long day and I was tired and there are no anniversaries, birthdays or holidays in sight. It’s the slim-pickings season for gifts.

The reason for all this is that glocals.com is giving away two tickets to Police’s 2007 reunion tour, but you have to win a contest by writing why you deserve these tickets. My first reaction to hearing about the contest was that I never win anything, so why bother. Second was: I’m too busy. My mother died a week ago at the fine age of 95 and I will be going home to the US for a family service in two weeks. Work is piling up and everyone is back from vacation, which means more work. Third was: hmmm, but it would be SO nice to hear Sting.

Here’s why: he’s the best icon I can think of for being over-55 and still terrific (sorry, Mick) in every way. He’s smarter, savvier, funnier and it’s just possible his voice is even better than when he came to fame. Good for him! Good for us. He inspired me to tuck an hour’s walk into my overcrowded work day in front of a computer, and I’m the better for it. If he could sing "Roxanne" way back when and give me shivers and do it again years later with "Fields of Gold," there is hope for us all to take a long, slow ride into the sunset in fine form.

Here’s really why it would be so nice to see and hear him: A little girl who has Rett Syndrome, we think, plays a big part in my life. She’s a real jewel, and she’s also a lot of work. In fairness, what child isn’t? But in addition to making life harder for her family, we’ve always worried about her health, and how long she will be with us. Sometimes that gets us down, and everyone in the family has moments where it’s all too much. During one of those I took a walk near Lake Geneva, around the vineyards and through fields with ripening grains. I had to drive to an appointment soon after, and because those fields had given me some peace I drove by them. A small miracle had Sting singing "Fields of Gold" on the radio. I pulled over and dedicated that song to lovely Tara and whenever I hear it I get a rush of golden love for that girl.

Thanks, Sting.

Contest: Glocals web site (used to be GenevaOnline) and it closes today, Wednesday!