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...

I cleaned bedroom and ironed. Liz to hospital for carpal tunnel op and all went well - she went to Josie's for the evening. I tried Wellington Arch but closed so toured Apsley House using English Heritage card. Some lovely paintings including Velasquez. To Serpentine gallery - interesting arta povera using cardboard paper rolls to make a labyrinth with mirrors and religious symbols like a Buddha statue. I did make a return visit to this exhibition and visited the Bedouin gallery as well. The pavilion is nice with lots of wild flowers. To RAH early and chatted to Beth and a pseud who has been promming since 1973 and was going home. To Royal College of Music talk about Mahler - Dr Christian was interesting on his lack of libido and guilt. He must have been hell to live with and Alma did not help at all. Met an interesting woman form Dunedin. The Mahler 2 was splendid and the conductor followed the score to the letter. Thought the National Youth choir needed more tenors and better ton...