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! 

A lovely day at Leith Hill Place beyond Dorking. Have long wanted to visit Ralph Vaughan Williams' childhood home and there is an excellent soundscape presentation and delicious home baked scones and cakes! Played Vaughan Williams on the Broadwood piano. The pre Prom talk on Mozart's Requiem was excellent - not so sure that the singers among the players worked so well in the hall. Enjoyed the clarinet concerto and bass aria and now watching it on TV. Everybody looks a bit spread out and the result is some singers singing too loud.

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.