day six.one

have just met and introduced James Taylor, who is speaking about Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle (in the city of Darwin's grandfather), and we are on the cusp of a sellout Mendelssohn's Octet for a lunchtime concert. I think the original idea was to recreate on stage The Ashes, but with Swiss Jurg Dahler replacing the ASQ's Sally Boud (who is on maternity leave) and with an Australian and a Canadian in the British Barbirolli Quartet, it is a nice idea that has not really worked out. Can't wait for the concert though...

day two.five

Sandi Toksvig has arrived and is currently sound checking for her sold out event later on, and I've just completed the first of this year's In Conversation series, with a (very) informal discussion with Martin Yates and David Kempster.
I also completely forgot that the Australian String Quartet and the Barbirolli Quartet were on In Tune this evening performing an excerpt from Mendelssohn's Octet being performed here next Tuesday, then subsequently in Buxton and Cheltenham.
Not only have the Great Voices of Bulgaria now arrived in Lichfield, but today is the birthday of their conductor Ilia Mihaylov. The In Conversation series continues tomorrow when he and I have a chat before their cathedral performance.
Also, the Worth Brothers Wine tent is now open for business. In the spirit of Henman Hill and Murray Mound, they have christened it Lush's Lawn. Lovely...