The organist librarian

Finished the book about Savute. Beautiful coffee concert at St John Upper Norwood today billed as Tim Posner. The piano trio played Rachmaninov Trio elegiaque and Schumann trio No. 1. The latter has a last movement where I felt Schumann was trying to convince himself all was well despite his depression! Soulful playing from all especially the cello (who I think is the son of the LMP principal viola). I spoke to the young violinist who hopes to go to Basel. What a treat and I did some sketching.Fr Michael Quaqoe celebrated vespers and First Mass of Epiphany lots of incense. We will miss him when he goes to Rome to study for his doctorate. Heard the last act of Otello with Stuart Skelton (we have seen him in the role at ENO) and Dudamel making his Met debut. Chester Zoo. 

Watched programme on ballet during the blitz and after the War. SS Simon and Jude. We sang Holy is the true light. I played Parry Elegy and Simon Preston Alleluyas. He is 80 this year. Fabulous Walkure live from ROH orchestra brilliant and thrilling singing Skelton, Stimme, Lundgren, Connolly, all of them! The football match caused mayhem. I parked at Selhurst and collected the car after the cinema. The train from Caterham came in on platform 3 instead of the usual platform 1 - took 5 minutes to exit Norwood Junction station. The traffic was horrendous with people doing stupid maneouvres. I was lucky and got straight on the train at Thornton Heath. Liz was at King's and stayed at Dennis's. Watched Simon Reeve on the Med. Finished Varden's excellent book on loneliness. 

Suggestions from the interfaith group about Laudato Si'. Do not drive to church use public transport. Recycle. The cathedral uses one leaflet per weekend for Masses and recycles those left over. Change basic attitudes to creation through education. Preach about it!! Took Liz to East Croydon and Lourdes via Toulouse for a week. To Mass. Worked on scores and quiet day. To Thornton Heath library to see my pictures on display. To the hall.  Went to Sackler gallery. Black American photos. You have to queue for Grayson Perry at the Serpentine gallery described as the most popular art exhibition ever so will go another day. What about the Hockney? Rather off putting advert.  Fidelio prom and talk excellent especially Stuart Skelton and the Spanish chorus. The ladies resplendent in white satin! Orfeon Donostiarra which city? Home in heavy rain and late.

To St George's Hanover Square for Edward Tambling's fine recital including Dom Gregory Murray's homage to Delius then to the Royal Academy Hockney portraits. Considering he is our greatest living draughtsman they are remarkably similar and after a while I realised how dead the faces were. Reason - no lights in the eyes just black splotches with some exceptions. Compared to Singer Sargent's portraits these are just decorative.  Early at the hall and enjoyed the film of Dame Myra Hess playing Bach and Beethoven in 1954. The Missa Solemnis was spoilt by orchestral and especially organ overload. Stuart Skelton was great but too often the tenors and inner parts got lost in a general sound. The later movements were better. How one missed the hushed amazement of "Et incarnatus est" and "Crucifixus" as Giulini interpreted it. Nice to see Mary Rouse and Martin Barry's mother but surely latecomers could be admitted to the Prom?

Left early but held up on buses - result did not get into In tune at Imperial College and listened to it on third floor on headphones. Stuart Skelton sang well. Annoying as have been trying for 4 years to get tickets and finally succeeded. Good to see folk again, A fine concert of French national anthem, Tchaik R and J, Elgar cello concerto and lovelt encore by Falks, Nevksy - basses rough.

An enjoyable Father's day. Early start as the train was replaced by a bus from Purley to Caterham so attended 8am BCP communion. Have not experienced that for years! Took refuge in the National Portrait gallery and National gallery as the West End shows inTrafalgar Square were very noisy. Enjoyed Tristan at ENO - Edward Gardner conducted and the orchestra were stunning. Stuart Skelton and Matthew Rose shone out. The set by Amish Kapoor was odd. Nice lady next to me a very keen opera fan. To St James Piccadilly for the first ever iftar there organised by City Circle. Sadiq Khan spoke well about Jo Cox and housing in London.  Played Bertalot on Repton,  George Thalben-Ball  on Gwalchmai and Thiman's Postlude on Harwood's Thornbury

Another lie-in after a disturbed night. Thank God Scotland said No! To Balham library to return all scores and get guidebooks. Spent the afternoon finishing the picture framing and 3 are now up on the wall! To ENO for Otello which must be the greatest of all operas. Stuart Skelton was stunning and so was Leah Crocetto. Jonathan Summers as Iago chilling and powerful. Chorus fabulous and brilliant conducting by Edward Gardner.

To Brixton for the session and 7 came including a Muslim lady - went well and nice eats. To Acton. Took Sean to Tamar's and he enjoyed it and lots of words. We went to the park and back to Watermans for lunch. He threw a wobbly at being put in the high chair so I could eat my lunch. The waiter gave him some chocolates! Picked up Liz from school (building work going on) and I went to Hinsley room. Found out this morning Raheed did not have it in his dairy and could not come so we did conversations -  5 there. Then to ENO for event about Otello with Edward Gardner, Stuart Skelton and the soprano. Sat next to a nice lady from Sanderstead. Saw a bit of Rigoletto on the big screen in Trafalgar Square. Watched an awful programme on Irish church complicity in adopting children in the USA.

Liz went off to Vaughan House. Louise had stayed overnight and went off shopping.  I submitted my Dialogue account and did the reading Michael had given me. An interesting article by Denys Turner about "Do we worship the same God" - answer we don't know. To Bloomsbury Baptist for Gary Sieling's excellent recital. Saw Jane and Gary before and afterwards - for once I was able to stay for the tea! A nice programme Bach Passacaglia, Brahms, MacDowell (there is no truth that he wrote this to a girlfriend called Rose who was a bit wild) Clerambault, Stanley, Britten and his own Toccata and Fugue on the Pink Panther theme. Great to have some humour! Then to the first part of Mass which was for new Christians - Alistair sang really badly. Archbishop Vincent. 507 bus to St John's Smith Square for the long awaited memorial concert for Lisa. Saw Richard Wiegold and met Jenny Bacon who is the widow of the first general manager of the Sydney Opera house - Lisa used to go to t...