The organist librarian

To Mass. Watched Victoria and Proms extra, also Gurrelieder from Prom. Setting up new dashcam. Ordered new printer. Liz's laptop has come. Haydn No 88 from the Concertgebouw and interview with Alan Hollinghurst. Mass for the circle at Addsicombe and I was asked to take up the gifts. Fr Keith attended the meeting in the hall and 2 new guys came along plus Beckenham and Terry. Tells me Fr Joe said the transition to Fr Keith would be a lot easier than his arrival! And who's fault was that? Sean had his home visit and did really well. Louise home.   Listened to Dvorak 8 from the Prom. LPO and Jurowski gave an interesting Russian programme with thrilling Shostakovich 11. The violin concerto no 1 of Prokofiev did not come over well.  It seems the 30 minute cutoff and noisy shoes moans at the Proms feedback meeting were dismissed. I agree a guide to promming would be a good idea as people do NOT know how to behave. A manager talked to us in the queue and got the feeling of our disco...

Played Wesley Holsworthy church bells (strangely no bell ringing today!) and Stanley. Choir of 5 sang Purcell Hear my prayer 2 part version well. Great music! I   listened to the Walkure final scene from last night's Prom conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. Super! Delivered letter in Polish to South Norwood Polish priests about Catenians. Baked cinnamon pastries. Enjoyed old films of Solomon and Arrau playing Beethoven.  As one would expect from Jurowski an exciting Beet 9 at the Prom. Pity about flute tuning and one or 2 sopranos not quite high enough also a restless audience on a warm night! Good soloists. Did not much like the new piece! Home in record time 50 minutes door to door! Enjoyed Father Brown episode. 

To Carnegie Hall for London Philharmonic orchestra conducted by Jurowski who seems to be using smaller gestures! Rachmaninov beautifully played - the Rhapsody and an unknown encore. Shostakovich 8 - the sound was tremendous especially the brass and percussion - like a knife going through you. We moved to the end of the row - we were in the balcony so we could get away quickly. Cor anglais solo excellent and the violas - wow! Every sound is clear and precise. To Top of the Rock at Rockefeller centre and what a stunning view! Back by 12.30

A good breakfast and the hotel was busy. We left our bags and walked through the town to Priory Street. Saw ruins of St Botolph's priory the first Augustinian priory in Britain and 10.30 for Angela's funeral. Interesting to learn more about her - she sang in 16 choirs! The organist did well - the church is carpeted and the Mander is baroque and works quite well. 3 hymns. The priest knew Angela for many years. We met Lindy and Denys (did not recognise them) and we walked with them to the George in the High Street for nice reception where we met Angela's niece and enjoyed reminiscing. We then visited Colchester castle which is impressive (but no senior rate) - lovely Roman and mediaeval objects. Walked back to hotel and then on to the station to get 3.38. I went to Rachel Leach's family introduction to the Prom and Jurowski conducted LPO in Planets, Schoenberg and Scriabin Prometheus with lighting effects. It was brilliant but the audience insisted in clapping every move...

To St Mary's to practise - fitted in between roaary and 12.10 a.m.mass. There was a delay starting and I played Sumsion and Bairstow and Willcocks arrangement of Veni emmanuel (Dermot's favourite) and I know. 7 choir members there so they sang well also people from the Railway club. At the end Michael Fleming's arrangement of Now the Green blade riseth. We got a little off the rack going to Long Ditton but did see the grave - it's a lovely cemetery and nice meal at the Ditton. We gave Louise Sage a lift. Parked at Battersea Park and of course the one night there was no 452 straight after the concert! LPO under Jurowski Bantock, Prokofiev Piano concerto 3 stunning playing from Anika Vavic, Sibelius and Also sprach. 

After lunch Liz drove me to Crown Point and I got a 417 to Clapham Common. Arrived at the picturehouse just in time for Ariadne auf Naxos of Strauss live from Glyndebourne. Fabulous singing especilly the sopranos and Thomas Allen. Interesting production which worked well! Jurowski conducted. Home by tube and train. Liz went to Chiswick for rehearsal and then to Acton.So pleased 2 essays are done - cna now concentrate better on the dissertation. Met elizabeth from tai chi and Fr Dave at underground station.

Listened to Prom of Goehr and Knussen but not very inspiring. Visited the new memorial to Bomber command - rather a fine sculpture. Of course there is debate about what they did but surely it is right to remember their sacrifice. A glorious day. Pre prom discussion with Christine Rice about her literary choices. Bryson, Galsworthy, David Walliams. The Foulks provoked interesting comments about balancing motherhood and career. She will be singing in The Minotaur at Covent Garden which we are going to see. The prom was brilliant and Liz got in OK. Weber, Mahler beautifully sing by Alice Coote and Tchaikovsky's Manfred. LPO conducted superbly by Jurowski. Watched Sao Paolo SO TVcast including second encore.

Listened to Prom of Goehr and Knussen but not very inspiring. Visited the new memorial to Bomber command - rather a fine sculpture. Of course there is debate about what they did but surely it is right to remember their sacrifice. A glorious day. Pre prom discussion with Christine Rice about her literary choices. Bryson, Galsworthy, David Walliams. The Foulks provoked interesting comments about balancing motherhood and career. She will be singing in The Minotaur at Covent Garden which we are going to see. The prom was brilliant and Liz got in OK. Weber, Mahler beautifully sing by Alice Coote and Tchaikovsky's Manfred. LPO conducted superbly by Jurowski. Watched Sao Paolo SO TVcast including second encore.

Listened to Prom of Goehr and Knussen but not very inspiring. Visited the new memorial to Bomber command - rather a fine sculpture. Of course there is debate about what they did but surely it is right to remember their sacrifice. A glorious day. Pre prom discussion with Christine Rice about her literary choices. Bryson, Galsworthy, David Walliams. The Foulks provoked interesting comments about balancing motherhood and career. She will be singing in The Minotaur at Covent Garden which we are going to see. The prom was brilliant and Liz got in OK. Weber, Mahler beautifully sing by Alice Coote and Tchaikovsky's Manfred. LPO conducted superbly by Jurowski. Watched Sao Paolo SO TVcast including second encore.

Tuesday's prom was splendid. Took the car to Acton and babysat Ciarán while Liz and Lou shopped. Had a great time running in his bedroom On your marks get set Go! But sometimes he just went No! London Phil cond Jurowski with scores. Kodaly Dances of Galanta, Bartok Piano concerto No. 1 which makes much use of percussion, Liszt Dante symphony with chorus and an excellent tenor. Loved it! Wednesday to Polka theatre Wimbledon - Ciarán loved all the playground and a rocking dolphin. The show was about archaeology and worms and they ended up playing with sand and having a great time. Had lunch there. Drove around the common and tennis club but no sign of a playground so back to Acton as he had dropped off. He had great fun in their pool and Liz cut back the hedges and ivy. Took car to Albert Hall and paid for parking. No scores! Berlioz Corsaire, Faure Pavane, Pascal Dupasin piece for quartet and orchestra interesting and Firebird with exciting ending. Offstage trumpet had a monitor so...