The organist librarian

Tuesday swam 20. Brilliant playing by  Alexander Pott  at Grosvenor chapel - Tomkins, Byrd and Bach. He makes the difficult sound easy. Spoke to his mother and a family from West Midlands.  To Tate Britain to see conceptual art - preferred Mark Wallinger and Sophie Michael's films and the Duveen dancers!  Fascinated by summer houses near Serpentine. Unimpressed by paintings at Serpentine gallery.  Excellent preProm discussion of Elgar 1 and BBC Philharmonic did not disappoint! A triumphant end. Dutilleux score hard to follow! Cannot imagine Rostropovich playing it! Simpson and Davies not really impressed. Empty hall put off my unknown works?  Lovely day at Whipsnade with the boys and Louise driving the new car! Saw baby giraffe, lemurs, sea lions, train ride, tiger, cheetahs, lions, zebras, elephants, rhino, moose, meerkats, etc.  The discussion of Henri Dutilleux is very helpful and I asked a question as I find his music bewildering and got lost in t...

To the National Gallery to see Metamorphosis around 3 beautiful Titians. The Mark Wallinger did not appeal but liked the films about the ballet and the poetry. To National Portrait gallery to see the BP awards - I seldom agree with the judges. Also looked at the Olympic stars gallery. Old No. 9 to the hall - next week will seem very strange. The meeting with Roger Wright and Chris Cotton was pretty bland - none of my points were raised. Lighting in gallery needs improving, prommers hate the rope in the arena and the enforcing of no food. Coughing and late comers were other issues. Alwyn, George Lloyd, Hildegard, Bax, Arnold and Haydn were composers mentioned and an Archers prom? The concert by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Haitink was splendid. Murray Perahia played Beethoven 4. Bruckner 9 - at start of slow movement lady fainted in front of us and hit her head on the floor. A doctor was quickly on the scene and the medical team. Watched paralympics coverage.