The organist librarian

Stunning Othello from RSC at Picturehouse Greenwich. What acting and direction and staging using water! Amazing and very moving.Having black actors playing Iago and Othello gave the play the whole new dimension.  Great Brahms Prom from OAE and Marin Alsop. Jamie Barton brought back happy memories of performing Alto rhapsody or rather going sick before the performance - that work seemed to jinx me! Interesting discussion about Brahms. I believe Britten disliked his music and influence. Lovly walk at Osterley with the boys.  Sean to Ciaran on high swing "Be very very careful Ciaran!" This from Mr Try anything himself!  The talk on the LSE was interesting and my question was well answered. It seems Harold Laski was very highly regarded by the Congress party members,  Messiaen at the Prom quite bearable, fine Mozart concerto 27 but what was that wierd encore? Bruckner 7! The encore was Shostakovich!

Wednesday was an extraordinary day. I spent some time reading "Othello". Ann did not come on Skype. To Coulsdon to choose music for June with Vickie. There was a line side fire at London bridge so had to get train to Victoria and then tube to Southwark. Met Bruce at Shakespeare's Globe for the outstanding production of "Othello". We had excellent seats against the wall in the lower gallery. The couple next to me had seen Paul Robeson play it at Stratford and apparently he sang after the performance - quite a feat! Olivier's film has influenced our perceptions. Tim McInerney commanded the stage as Iago. There was a class of 11 year olds from a special needs school and they were restless - what could they make of such a play? Fortunately they went at interval. The final scenes were so moving with Desdemona fighting for her life and Othello's tragic end taunted by Emilia. "Oh the pity of it" "It is the cause" "farewell the pomp and ...