You've got a friend

What a great day!

Today's session with my music group was in Balbriggan, north of Dublin. Musical choices were really good, as was the chat. So mush chat in fact that I didn't have time to wait for the no-traditional post-music refreshments.

I rushed off to get ready for a repeat visit to the new Whyte Recital Hall. Tonight was very different from last Tuesday. The Irish Baroque Orchestra gave us a programme of Haydn and Mozart, finishing with a magnificent performance of Mozart's 'Jupiter' Symphony. The IBO really is a force to be reckoned with. Peter Whelan, their director, has shaped them into a world-class ensemble. Haydn and Mozart aren't composers you'd associate with the 'Baroque' part of the orchestra's name, but what we heard tonight was extraordinary. The rapturous reception at the end of the night was richly deserved.

I have tickets for two more visits to this fine new hall, on next Tuesday and the Tuesday after that. Solo piano on the 12th and string quartet on the 19th. Really looking forward to both.

*The blip is of a group of stones in today's music-host's garden.