The organist librarian

To Tate Britain for 10.30 a.m. visit to the Millais exhibition. Audio guide good. Some very impressive painting over a long life. Some of his paintings of children are very sentimental. I'm not a lover of the Pre-Raphaelites but I must say I was impressed by some of the pictures. Met Pauline who comes to the library every day! Liked the last room of Scottish landscapes one of which was lent by Johannesburg Art gallery! "The sound of many waters" shown here with a detail gets its title from Newman's Gerontius. The daily selection of Newman's writings by A.N.Wilson which Liz gave me for my birthday is proving excellent reading with the daily missal each morning. The spirituality day was led by Jill Benet from Centering prayer and focused on motivation and following Christ and resting in the Lord. I took a walk to Church House bookshop and bought the Psalms calendar for Ann and Paul. Also a Taize calendar and the booklet for the Week of prayer for Christian unity.

Tuesday was a long day. Swam 34 lengths - the pool was busy and not arranged as it usually is with wide fast and slow lanes. I did my best to catch up on work so I was tired by the time I got to the Festival hall. Liz sat in for the first half of Henze Bassarids suite which apparently was better to watch than to listen to. The Beethoven went well but Dohnanyi was not always clear and speeded up the finale. We were joined by Philharmonia Voices directed by Aidan Oliver and some members of the Bristol choral society so we filled the new choir stalls. Afterwards we went to the bar for the farewell to Robert Dean. He clearly enjoyed Rosa's choral item featuring some of his favourite expressions and rolled rs. He gave an excellent speech and was presented with wine and a leather bound score of Rosa's piece. It was Jean Taylor who got him to come 10 years ago and there have been some memorable concerts notably Gerontius and Mozart under his direction. We were home by 11.30 p.m. The c...

Thursday's performance in the cathedral was very special! At the afternoon I spoke to Sir Andrew Davis and he signed my score. He remembered conducting the work with the chorus. James Gilchrist was a stunning Gerontius really singing out. I put him up with Stuart Burrowes as one of the finest I have heard. Peter Sidhorn a commanding Priest and Angel. Catherine Wyn Rogers has made the Angel her own and the final section was taken very slowly and tenderly. She bears comparison with my beloved Dame Janet Baker. The chorus did well we think and there was a good audience. Bruce came to sell programmes. We saw Gervaise afterwards and several friends. I certainly enjoyed the experience and it made me think hard about my end and what I have done in my life. Maybe we all need to think more about hell and judgement! Yes there is a loving God who will accept us all and purgatory seems like a logical idea especially for those who have no chance to repent. Othello has a line about not wishing t...

On Wednesday back to Philharmonia Chorus after a gap since the Verdi Requiem to rehearse Beethoven's "Fidelio" at Hinde St Methodist church with Martin Merry of ENO. I was unable to sing at King's Cambridge as the concert fell on Easter Vigil but heard the excellent broadcast on Easter Monday (Light of Life and Sursum Corda by Elgar, Vaughan Williams 5 mystical songs). It is 28 years since the chorus first sang on stage in Fidelio in Orange. It was an amazing experience. Zubin Mehta conducted the Israel Philharmonic with Gundula Jamowitz and Jon Vickers. I have a video of the rehearsals with the chorus trying to march! The feeling of liberation was fantastic after being cooped under the stage in the heat. At one rehearsal we sang every verse of Ilkley Moor ba tat as we waited. Professionals would never have stood for it! At another both cameras ran out of film. Seeing the film of the performance 10 years later was sad as several friends had passed on. The coach had a ...