The organist librarian

To Kew Gardens to serve at requiem for Liza - she was my age. All went well. Fr Stephen gave an amusing and fine homily. He told how she said she screamed top notes and low ones she farted! He also quoted Buddha! He said she sent him CDs for his posting to Iraq for 9 months so reckon he is in the forces. Her cousin Luke Connell served but needed lots of guidance. We heard Panis angelicus recorded by Liza 3 weeks ago - she was so brave! A lovely Ave Maria, superb Samoan funeral song and Meryl Rose sang "May the choirs of angels". Stephen Rose played superbly - she came in to Nimrod and out to "Wish me luck". Great hymns Dear Lord and Father and Thine be the glory. To her lovely home and we drank a champagne toast in sunshine in her lovely garden. A most interesting chat to her cousin about South Africa. The present generation are still in the liberation mode and creating the equivalent of the big companies like Sasol for their pals. It is the next generation who will...

So sad to learn that Liza had died of cancer and it all happened so quickly. She was a great soprano and always pleased to see old friends. Spoke to Ann. Saturday and Sunday morning completed essay 1 - the review of Hugh Goddard's book. Watched Who do you think you are Len Goodman and Tracey Emin and an excellent programme on Lucian Freud. Recording of Elizabeth played on radio 3 so I sent Rob Cowan an email and he replied. Netta was singing in the Dulwich chamber choir at Mass last night - they sang really well - Berkeley Missa brevis (magic soft ending to Gloria) and Bruckner Ave Maria. She doesn't sing in the chorus any more.

Swam as usual 40 and 36. I then went straight to the Cadogan Hall for run-through of "Fidelio" arriving late but not too late to sing! Back to work and then back for the performance. Why we were called so early is beyond me as the dressing room was too small and there was nowhere to sit. The performance was splendid with Elizabeth and all the soloists on great form and Madeleine conducting brilliantly. The chorus sang well although I think the last part of the Prisoners chorus should have been softer. Home on bus and train and chatted to some people from Battersea I know. Wednesday chat to Ann and then to library to move the fiction round with Francis, Wisdom and Urbain. All done in 90 minutes and looking good. Home to discuss holidays. To interfaith group. I was late as there was a fatality at Thornton Heath so ended up on buses! Amina Hassan a SOmali Muslim spoke really well and answered questions. 14 there which is great. To Gandhi Hall for assessment with Edward. In th...

After lunch the house still cold. Practised Mendelssohn Sonata No. 6 this morning and listened to "Just a minute" on radio 4. There was an excellent service from St John's Cambridge on the radio this a.m. and evensong was from Chester cathedral. To the cathedral for the blind organist David Abrahamian Liddle's recital of Vierne's 6th sonata. Stunning playing! Then to Cadogan hall for Fidelio orchestral rehearsal. Long chat to Elizabeth Connell - she mentioned Scott Macrobert dying so young and said his mother died a week after returning to South Africa. She thinks Colin Hartley may come to the concert on Tuesday - he teaches music in Deal.