The organist librarian

Turned out wet. Got parked near Nat History museum in good time for rehearsal which went very smoothly. Back to door 2 and interviewed by the Telegraph about the flags dispute.   We went to the recording of The Choir about Parry's Jerusalem  and I met David Owen Norris in the street and complimented hom in his famous chords on Proms Extra! Full marks to Petroc on Radio 3 for mentioning that we are gallery prommers! As Auntie Flo said it was a once in a lifetime experience and we really enjoyed it! What a wonderful concert - full of lovely music. Florez was superb and brilliant acting. Great to see 16 young singers in Serenade to Music (definitely a desert island piece and we recently saw the score and photos at Leith Hill Place where RVW grew up). Thank you to all our fellow Prommers in the gallery (which alas Katie dd not mention but Sakari did) and to all the staff at the Hall. Linda came up specially to say hello. How proud Mum and Dad would have been - they are comparing ...

Packed cases and cleared up ready to leave. To Gate picturehouse to see Met production of La Donna del lago by Rossini. Good audience. Joyce di Donato was stunning and so was Florez. Standing ovation. To Vic and A cast room and drew 2 lions one by Donatello! To oil painitng and the first part is done and shellac is on (3 coats). Fish and chips when Louise and Tom came home and Sean popped out of bed! We got up at 5 a,m, and drove to terminal 5 where the valet parking took the car and we had breakfast at Giraffe. The flight BA was smooth and as we were in a group with Bishop Richard we sailed through passport control with diplomatic support! We then waited for the Luton flight to come in and all got on the coach.to Jerusalem. Views of the walls and the divisions are very clear. Very warm welcome at St Georg'e college and a very pleasant room. Excellent meal and orientation session.

On Bank Holiday Monday we went to the Odeon Beckenham to see the ROH production of La Donna del lago live from Covent Garden. Adrian, Terence and Graham were there and it was full. The singing was stunning especially Joyce Didonato, Juan Diego Florez and Colin Lee. The production was wierd with Walter Scott and Rossini (sung by a woman) staging the opera for a Caledonian society. I kept dropping off in the first act but the second act was much better. The wierd juxtaposition of warriors bathing themselves in blood and haggis and then umbrellas appearing.... at one point the heroine was on stage while everyone was bemoaning her absence - she was a foot away! Still we enjoyed it especially the finale with stunning runs. 

We really enjoyed the opera live from Covent Garden at Canary Wharf. BP provided plastic groundsheets, rain capes and inflatable cushions and we needed them as it poured at the start but then cleared up well. We christened our St John's College bag for carrying drinks and 2 cushions. All the cast were great especially Juan Florez the tenor and the soprano in a wheelchair. Home at midnight and Liz went to Bow as water man coming tomorrow. Met Nina soprano from St John's as I got off at Norwood Junction and her husband met her. She went early to get a seat in Trafalgar Square and got wet too.