The top flight

Here is Katie Woolley, principal horn with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the tender age of 22. She was one of the wind soloists in this morning's wonderful concert of French music.

Katie is talking about Poulenc's Élégie for Horn and Piano, composed in memory of Dennis Brain, the legendary English horn player who died much too young in a car crash. Although this happened long before she was born, Katie spoke movingly about the importance of Dennis Brain to horn players. She also explained how Poulenc expressed his sadness and his anger in this piece.

We also heard:
Poulenc Sonata for clarinet & bassoon
Saint-Saëns La Muse et le Poète for piano trio
Saint-Saëns Bassoon Sonata, op.168
Poulenc Clarinet Sonata

I have not heard such immaculate and moving wind playing for many a long year (or perhaps since last year in Corbridge)!

We are gradually catching up with old friends who come every year. We were very sad to hear that John's wife died in the Spring and glad he felt able to come.

We had coffee and croissants before the performance. Very civilised.

Tonight's concert programme is:
Stanford Fantasy no.1 for clarinet & strings
Howells Piano Quartet in A minor, op.21
Beethoven Septet, op. 20

Rob Plane, clarinet, is a great advocate for Stanford.

We leave shortly to be transformed to seventh heaven yet again.

PS Forgot to say that the candlelight concert tonight was Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps. It was spine tingling and very moving. So much emotion in one piece of music. The audience was silent at the end. Just wonderful.