Brecon choral festival

 Cooked breakfast and set off to Hughenden manor NT home of Disraeli. Fascinating and very good guides. Many systems went down so could not use card at first. To St Michael and all angels Hughenden where Disraeli is buried under the organ. His wife is in the churchyard. Saw red kites and the Red Arrows. Long drive to Roman villa which we had seen before so had cream tea. Another long drive round Cheltenham and Monmouth where we got shopping. Reached Brecon around 8 so tired. Georgian town house on 3 floors which is not ideal. Alex got TV setup and showed us microwave. Watched First night of Proms. Bruckner Ps 150, Clara Schumann piano concerto with Isata. Conductor hard to follow. Fell asleep watching sewing bee. Slept right through to 7. 

Sat SM Primrose Hill. Walked to Christs college over the river. Excellent discussion of Henry Vaughan with Rowan Williams, local prof and expert. Spoke to all of them. Sandwiches. Continuum concert in the chapel excellent especially the men. New setting of Morning watch by Geraint Lewis. Howells requiem and Parry Songs of farewell. The soprano sound was a bit wearing. Walked to canal basin for sea shanties then to the library for a delightful family group based in London lovely conductor. To St Mary’s male voice choir not as loud as expected. Skipped the last 2 choirs on the trail so could park at cathedral. Heard rehearsal and exc supper at the Arches. London Male voice choir with Penelope George. The soloist was better at rehearsal. Astonishing crescendos and endings! We all sang in Welsh as we did in Cardiff. Glwad! Mark Salmon the compère talked too much no Mike and could not hear from back of nave. It was clever to have the men in the nave for start of part 2. Watched a bit more of First Night and seeing bee. Woke 4.40 am