Musical delight

We heard today that Clare's Godmother, Auntie Daphne died this morning, a few days after her 88th birthday. She suffered a severely disabling stroke several years ago and was bed-ridden in a nursing home outside Exeter. Having been an independent active person all her life, infirmity was crippling to her spirit, and she hated needing so much help from others. I hope and pray that she was able to welcome death as a merciful release from her misery. 

My afternoon visit to the wound clinic saw me returning home laden with extra nursing supplies to take us through our planned weekend stay in Weston for sister Pauline's 90th birthday. The nurses have been ever so helpful in helping us prepare for this. 

For much of the day it was windy and it rained intermittently, but by early evening the weather calmed down, so we were able to walk to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for a concert by the Welsh Sinfonia chamber orchestra. This is an Cardiff based ensemble of professional musicians, which tours around Wales to perform, and works with school music projects. The concert  programme included first symphonies by C.P.E. Bach and Beethoven, a rather odd 20th century piece by Charles Ives, plus Haydn's 'Cello concerto with Sheku Kanneh-Mason as the soloist. 

Three years ago he was Young Musician of the Year and is now in his second year studying at the Royal Academy of Music, in between gigs on the international concert circuit. I was perversely pleased the concert notes made no mention of him performing at last year's Royal Wedding, which made him somewhat a celebrity outside the music world. His status as a musician lies in continued recognition of his musicianship, all over the world. His playing was beautiful, exquisite in emotional maturity and sensitivity, as well as technical brilliance. What a wonderful musical treat!