Concert at St Mary's Putney

Bill Clark came to talk to the reading group about "The Mayor of Garratt". As Gill was off sick I was unable to stay in the staff room for the session but they clearly enjoyed it. He was delayed by car and underground. The book is unwieldy and needs editing. He is a true enthusiast. The library was quiet perhaps because it was a lovely day again. To Vespers and Mass - Fr Kingsley celebrated. The young choir from St Martin's Ampleforth sang really well - "Come unto him" from Messiah and Panis angelicus. Rose vestments for Laetare Sunday. I left after communion and got straight on a district line train. At Earls Court straight onto a train and at Putney Bridge a 270 bus so I was at Putney church by 7.25! The Thorington players are amateur. They played the overture to Idomeneo. Martin Neary played Bach's Fantasia in G on the smallish organ. The acoustic is odd perhaps because of the ceiling. The church has been much improved with an adjoining cafe and upstairs room for interval drinks. The Suite for flute and strings by Bach was enjoyable but David Cairns needs to get better starts! The Bach motet went reasonably well. I found I had a giraffe from the second sopranos obscuring the conductor but followed the cello and basses behind me. I think we would have been better in a block rather than a row of 5 tenors. Could not hear the organ! Best of all was the Mozart Piano concerto in E flat K482 beautifully played by Tamas Vesmas. The horns and winds acquitted themselves well too. Most of the singers were playing as well! Liz came for the second half. The encore was the Mozart Fantasia in C minor. Good audience too. Putney waterfront is much changed. We drove home and got in about 10.45 p.m. Louise had rung from Melbourne airport - their flight from Sydney had been delayed by 3 hours but the photos from Ann show them looking well.