Berlioz

Watching Olympics BMX, diving, athletics, hockey, amazing men's walk. Dennis dropped in - he was going to women's volleyball final.  To pre Prom talk with 3 members of BBC National orchestra of Wales and it was revealed that the offstage brass were to be on the stage which brought outrage from the large audience. I asked a question about the delay for the brass. TV screens could have been used but the conductor claimed ensemble would be better. More likely the BBC wanted to sell more seats! The performance was disappointing with a poor first entry from the sopranos and chorus anticipating the beat. So much brass on stage meant we were blasted and the choirs sang too loudly. Toby Spence just about managed although it was touch and go. 10 timpanists. Fischer's beat was small. The whole thing left me unmoved. Met Martin Ball and Chris Dobb.