Spring cleaning

A glorious day for cleaning the canopy. And I suppose the men clambering around on top of the roof were grateful for that as it slowly dawned on them what 1200 sq metres feels like when you are scrubbing it with a brush whilst hanging from a harness. Rather them than me..
Tonight we all decamp to Christies South Ken for a Friends event with music and general jollification. We are introducing the company to lots of new people and I am very much looking forward to it.

At the end of this month we hear whether our funding application to the ACE for our Inspire Project has been successful or not. It would be terrific to get some assistance to expand this hugely successful scheme into all sorts of new areas. I can't say I'm terribly confident given the fact that so many have applied for the money in the pot but you never know I suppose. It would be the first time we ever received support from ACE so we are not, as you might say, on their radar. You will be the first to know if I am wrong to be pessimistic.

Quick update

After many months of discussion it was nice to be able to finally speak of our new sponsor, Investec Wealth & Investment. It is certainly a tough time for the arts so we can take some comfort in the fact that companies who see the value of what we do to their own business are still out there. Here is to a successful partnership. The next two years will be challenging and exciting in equal measure as we build a plan for OHP's future structure. I will of course keep you all informed!

The roof lifts off the ground today so having a sunny, still day is a bonus. Once up, the hard work to build the rest of the theatre begins in earnest and Kasete, our operations manager has much to do. The box office is extremely busy processing Friends bookings and it won't be too long before rehearsals begin.

We are all at Christies next week for a very special event to introduce the company to new supporters and friends - about two hundred of them. We have some lovely entertainment laid on and the guest list is impressive indeed, so it is an important evening for us with everybody front and centre for the cause.

On the home front, Fiora is being toilet trained. For parents, no further explanation is necessary.

Spring HAD sprung

Two or three recent days had lulled us into thinking the seasons were turning. Crocuses and daffodils were poking their heads above ground and there was discernible warmth in the sunshine but alas, no more as icy wind and rain return. In one week the roof arrives and in two and half weeks it will be there in it's full spectacular glory.

My morning has shifted from chuckling at Arsenal's misadventure to the wonders of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West. There is no link, just the myriad offerings of an iPad - news, music and flick football too (PikPok's 'Flick Kick' in case you were wondering).

La Stupenda remembered

The Thanksgiving service for Dame Joan Sutherland took place at Westminster Abbey yesterday and a gathering of the great and good from the world of music seemed a fitting remembrance. Richard Bonynge's reading was very touching and delicate and it was appropriate to have the orchestra of the ROH, with Pappano conducting, providing the pre service music and accompaniment. I still think there ought to have been a ritzy send off concert for her at the house itself but the Abbey is grand enough.

I did feel for the singer who performed a couple of lovely pieces; at one point she had to immediately follow on from the playing of a recording of La Stupenda singing Casta Diva. That's pressure but she sang admirably. It was strange to hear the recording floating through the huge Abbey with what must have been a couple of thousand people hushed in contemplation. I was struck by the natural theatricality of it and theatres don't come much bigger or more dramatic than that huge church. The music was impeccably chosen and performed and all in all I think Richard will be immensely pleased with a dignified and majestic service. We look forward to Don Pasquale with him in June.

At the close of the service, it took a while to get out because of the old friends and colleagues one kept bumping into. I was sitting next to David Whelton of the Philharmonia Orchestra, a very nice colleague with whom I had some dealings a few years back. He has one of the more interesting culinary interests; he is a connoisseur of the tomato which being of southern Italian stock I find highly commendable indeed. As if to prove my point, as I write this, a nearby market trader has dropped a mango which has rolled to my feet by my table. A mango is a mango whatever and wherever it is but the tomato is as varied as the peoples of the planet. I raise a glass of passata to men like David Whelton and the mammas like mine who perform miracles with it.

Back in the real world, I have issues to deal with...like French drains and dimmer racks.

Attenshun

It was a lovely evening at the National Army Museum last night where we provided some music for the opening of their exhibition about wives and sweethearts. Meeting Dame Vera Lynn, a genuine claimant to the title of 'Force's Sweetheart' was a real pleasure. Meeting Kate Adie, another legend in my eyes, was an added bonus although the instinct is to check there are no explosions behind her. Among the top brass, MOD and other guests were a pleasingly large number of supporters of OHP although I did happen across a General threatening James with a court martial if we ever turned into Glyndebourne. I could have sworn he was standing to attention at the time -and so was James. I gave out lots of business cards so I expect some instructional emails soon but if the Green Jackets turn up in armoured personnel carriers I will know that James's General has had enough.

The exhibition is very touching and there has been a lot of press for it recently - I suppose it really is 'of the moment', sadly. Good luck to them with it.

I am itching to talk about our new sponsors (I am at another museum tonight for an event with them) but unfortunately the time is not yet right - another fortnight or so should do it.