The organist librarian

Fascinating film on Rachmaninov on BBC4 by Tom Service. Saw the rest of Gypsy. We  sang at Anthony and Consola's wedding at St John the Evangelist Upper Norwood - Zadok the Priest, carols and hymns - a very happy occasion. Alexander Pott played superbly. To 6.30 Mass at St Matthew West Norwood - pews are better arranged but the new parish priest Fr Cassidy is very Scottish and used a small table in front of the altar which made it feel cramped and candlelight. Guitar not in tune flute OK. Endured Silent night and all of First Nowell. Sanctus and psalm said. Jennie Mitchener was there. W atching fascinating BBC programme on Shostakovich's Leningrad symphony.

Pictures show the Queen and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the opening of the hall in 1951. Tuesday and the Royal Gala concert marking the reopening of the Royal Festival Hall. We had to be there at 3 p.m. because of security. 600 singers from 7 choirs took part and I sat between tenors from the Billingshurst choral society and the London Philharmonic choir. Paul Daniel conducted. The concert started late. The front stalls were full of sopranos in orange and altos in green, tenors in pink tops and basses in brown. After the National anthem, we sang Zadok the priest. The Sixteen and the Adventist chorale combined in a sensational version of Purcell's Come ye sons of art. Watching Ken Burton's face was an inspiration! The London Philharmonic strings then played Elgar's Introduction and Allegro. What a fine work this is and I don't recall hearing it live before. In the interval there was champagne and I spoke to Julian Lloyd Webber about his father's music. Also...

Thursday to St George's hospital whcih turned out to be an impression for a new right ear hearing aid mould. Then to Kensington Gardens to read the Tablet in sunshine before the rehearsal at the Royal Albert Hall for the Classic FM 15th birthday concert. This was packed and featured fireworks and a birthday cake which nobody cut and free coffee from the sponsors. David Parry conducted the Philharmonia with aplomb and various Classic FM presenters introduced the items. We began with "Zadok the priest" the first music played on the station. Nicola Benedetti played The Lark ascending superbly and looked wonderful! Alfie Boe sang O solo mio and Nessun dorma. Natalie Klein played the Elgar cello concerto beautifully. I enjoyed singing the Grand march from Aida and the Benedictus of Carl Jenkins. We also sang Faure's In paradisum. There was a new arrangement of Happy birthday and the encore was the Hallelujah chorus! Dorio and Sheila Melfi were in the audience and it was a ...