Barbra Streisand is to charge up to £500 per ticket when she plays the UK this summer.

The cheapest seats for Streisand's concert at London's O2 Arena - formerly the Millennium Dome - will cost £100.

The music legend is performing in the UK for the first time in 13 years.

Her ticket prices far exceed the likes of Madonna and the Rolling Stones.

Top tickets to see the Stones at Twickenham this summer cost £150.

Madonna came under fire last year when tickets for her Confessions tour were priced between £80 and £160.

Streisand's London gig on July 18 will be one of five European dates.

She will also play Castletown House in Dublin on July 14 plus shows in Vienna, Paris and Nice.

"What a joy it will be to perform in so many wonderful countries for the first time," said Streisand.

"I can't wait to experience these different audiences and different cultures."

The lavish show will include a 58-piece orchestra and Streisand will perform a string of hits including The Way We Were and Don't Rain On My Parade.

Part of the proceeds would go to the Barbra Streisand Foundation, which supports causes including the environment, civil rights and disadvantaged youngsters.

A spokesman for the star defended the high ticket prices.

"Seeing Barbra Streisand in concert is a pretty momentous occasion that ranks up there with seeing Sinatra or Elvis.

"If you think that FA Cup final tickets are going for £1,600, you get some sort of context," the spokesman told the Evening Standard.

Tour promoter Michael Cohl said: "It is an amazing show - a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed."

Streisand's recent US tour, her first in six years, broke box office records in 14 of the 16 venues she played.

The 65-year-old is the best-selling female artist of all time, with 50 gold, 30 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums to her credit.

Her career includes two Oscars, four Emmys, 10 Golden Globes and eight Grammys.

She won the best actress Oscar in 1969 for Funny Girl followed by the best original song award for A Star is Born, in 1977.

After an eight-year break from acting she made her comeback opposite Dustin Hoffman in the hit 2004 comedy Meet The Fockers.

Explore Music

• CD Reviews

• Live Reviews

• Classical

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010