The organist librarian

Took Ciaran to his diving course and he did really well. Liz took Sean for a swim. We enjoyed sketching at the Edward Bawden exhibition at Dulwich picture gallery and then made a beachhut out of lollipop sticks in the garden and the boys did some more drawing. Met Pauline Kirwan and Carol and Roger from St Michael Beckenham. Roger told me the organ is covered during the works and several people have died or are seriously ill. I had a seat for Inspire new music at Broadcasting house but it would have been difficult to get to the Prom so Liz went. Budapest festival orchestra Enescu, Mahler 4 and encore Laudate dominum sung by orchestra! Watched university challenge. I complained to the gallery about a staff member who was officious about the stools! 

Tuesday did not swim and had a lie-in - miserable weather. Completed 2 paintings while watching CBeebies Prom - saw Mia and listened to Prom of Kiss me Kate which was excellent. To talk on Brahms. Budapest Festival orchestra under Ivan Fischer played Brahms 3 and 4 superbly. Saw Peter Stevens. The late Prom was Gardiner conducting Missa Solemnis with Monteverdi choir and period instruments. Some of it was far too fast, one generally got the feeling the pros had no idea what they were singing about. What soft passages we got were not expressivo at all. The soprano solosit was squally and the bass (Matthew Rose) sounded angry and a bit like Pizzarro. Tenor and alto soloists were fine. Met Revd Michael Bourdeaux on the bus briefly and got a taxi from East Acton. Wednesday took the boys o the Osterley Park trail and they enjoyed the logs and den and swings. To the garden centre for lunch and soft play. Tom came home early so we got bus and tube to Liverpool street in good time for the 7 ...

UP early and then back to bed for rest. To Cadogan Hall and Liz got cough mixture and strepsils for me. Louis Schwizgebel played Mozart superbly and then we had the Mahler piano quartet and Strauss Metamorphosen. Liz dropped off onto the man next to her! Pouring all day so carnival must have been a wash-out. 3 pm Ulster orchestra with Jan van Steen free Prom (surprised to see empty seats) Dvorak, Bax and Riverdance. Zhang Zuo played the Grieg concerto wearing a split skirt! To talk on Hungarian music and alarming to hear of right wing anti-semitic government. The Budapest festival orchestra under Ivan Fischer Brahms, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Dvorak and Kodaly. Basses at the back of the stage again makes a very rich sound. Home to see film on the zoo and Richard Attenborough RIP.