The organist librarian

Back to the swimming pool!  Excellent talk and performance of Israel in Egypt complete original version. Part 1 not as exciting as later parts originally funeral music for Queen Caroline.  Boys looking tanned and relaxed from French trip. The quiet day on the Pharisee and the tax collector went well and played 2 Kyrie's sung by the cathedral choir Vaughan Williams and Palestrina. 20 came. First prom Philharmonia Stravinsky, gorgeous Ravel and Adams.  A superb late night Prom with the Monteverdi choir Schutz and Bach cantatas. The skill of the composer and the instrumentalists amazing. Home at 12.30 a.m.  the annivrsary day turned out different. Liz went up to Glyn Close as Ann-Marie's back window in her car had to be replaced. So I went to Mass alone and missed art as picked her up.  After the splendid champagne tea at Library lounge Marriott County Hall a great conversation with the members of Bremen chamber orchestra who are doing amazing work in a school. Th...

Mass. Dr Ojo removed mole on left arm. Stitches out in 10 days and cream  for my leg. Sorted scores. Draft keep the date for October 8th.  First night of the Proms turned out to be enjoyable. Lovely Beethoven sensitively played and lovely singing in John Adams' Harmonium and it so hard - it makes Beethoven 9 look easy! Good to see everyone again and we were in our usual seats watching TV performers. Liz spoke to Chi Chi about Shaku. 

Lie-in and no swim - still coughing and cold. Long chat to Ann. To art and worked on badge and lilies. To talk on saxophones with Tim McAllister who was soloist in the John Adams which was very disappointing. However Marin Alsop was given honorary membership of the Royal Philharmonic society and conducted Mahler 1 as in the score (had full score). Liz to Acton and I came home and watched part of the prom again. The Borusan Istanbul philharmonic conductor is great - he uses his cuffs! 

To pre Prom interview with 3 musicians from St Louis symphony orchestra who were making their Proms debut - 2 violinists and cor anglais who described their much loved concert hall and how they play with heart and do community outreach. They are well endowed. The concert was good Brahms, Beethoven played by Christian Tetzlaff, Schoenberg and Gershwin. To Acton. Wednesday all 3 of us went swimming at Fountains leisure centre, Brentford. Because it is run by Fusion we got in free. Ciarán loves the water and I did 12 lengths. To Carluccios for a nice lunch and shopping. Lovely deli in Turnham Green. To prom of "Nixon in China" conducted by John Adams himself - having some short bits of score from the workshop helped - some mistakes in the libretto in the programme. Fascinating rhythms and harmonies and stupendous singing from Gerald Finlay and Korean colouratura. Home at 11.30 and watched Married to the Moonies.

Monday to mosaic and tai chi. I forgot my umbrella. Liz went to Devon to stay with Martine. To Battersea Park library. The preProm talk was about the co-operation between Juillard and Royal Academy and indeed the combined orchestra had a superb string sound. John Adams conducted Respighi and Ravel piano concerto with Imogen Cooper and City Noir. Tuesday to dentist and £30 to fix the tooth that broke off at end of cruise. Suggested private hygienist - £43! To St Helen's for end of term Mass and farewell to Jan and Rose and nice reception afterwards. New head not nice. Good to see everyone again. To preProm with pieces by Finnish woman Kaija Saariaho which were attractive and BBC Phil under Mena played Strauss Also sprach and Sibelius 7. Soprano flunked top note and some low notes in 4 last songs.