Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026The first opera I ever saw, and still my favourite. 140
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026BBC iPlayer. There are a surprising number of small roles taken by actors who have since become very famous. 210
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Watching A Very Peculiar Practice again after many years, now my favourite is not Dr Rose Marie but Jock and his talk of the pissant swamp. 110
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I'm the only person in this pub interested in this game. I'm guessing there are several Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea fans crying into their beers. 100
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Oh well, at least I'm on the way home before rush hour. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Finished work in time for some cricket. My arrival is not helping Surrey. 110
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Finally home from Last Night of the Proms, and at last I get to sit down. 140
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I really didn't like tonight's Mahler. I wouldn't break the silence at the end though. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Missed the first half of tonight's Prom because of the closure of South Kensington tube. I shouldn't have joked about Reggie Perrin yesterday. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026I'm now old enough to have been 11 minutes late from many of the stations Reggie mentions. 030
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 06/09/2026"Meet me by the durians. Just follow the smell" 020
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Any performance by Martha Argerich is an occasion to be treasured, but tonight was really special. 0110
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026I'm wearing long trousers for the first time since Glyndebourne. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 02/09/2026I likewise thought back to Bayreuth this evening.He's wonderful to watch, which obviously we don't see there. The orchestra too are great close up, seeing how much they appreciate each others solos etc. 110
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Even Albrecht Mayer gets a bit of last minute practice in before Tchaik 4. 120
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026I was in Brixton this morning and there is a new tribute to Kevin Campbell. 010
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Albert listening to the beats wafting over from Notting Hill. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Romeo and Juliet in the second half of tonight's Prom. I had feared that watching Forest earlier would be "a story of more woe", but they were good! 010
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Given the Strauss quote about beer, the pub seemed the best place to go after this magnificent Prom. 020
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 24/08/2026All the extra pockets on my new shorts are brilliant, until you forget to check one of them for tissues on laundry day. 140
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 23/08/2026The Living Daylights, but with Bond playing the cello himself. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Same blue skies as in the Midlands, but definitely warmer down here. 020
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 22/08/2026If only Forest had played as well as the cricket team from over the road. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Surrey's batters today doing their own version of Haydn's Farewell Symphony, with players leaving their positions regularly. 010
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026I'll be in Nottingham on Saturday, but today it's Notts at Surrey. 210
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026In this production I can see why Tosca is so jealous of a painting. That's not religious ecstasy on her face. 020
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026I'm about to record an accompaniment, so my expected delivery is bound to arrive during a good take. 110
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 16/08/2026The labelling of the first half of this morning's Prom shouldn't have been Baroque, it was Fröst! 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 15/08/2026I'd somehow missed the first bit of that story! 010
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Berlioz Requiem as impressive as expected in the big moments, but those soft cymbals in the Sanctus were just divine. 240
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 15/08/2026I didn't realise that Beecham's "chuck in a couple of brass bands" re Belshazzar's Feast was because he already had the players on hand for a performance of Berlioz's Requiem. Looking forward to the Grand messe des mortes this evening. 140
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Next season of The Mandalorian is looking a bit low budget. 030
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 11/08/2026At tonight's Prom I discovered I'm not the only one who thinks the opening number of Beauty and the Beast and the start of the Pastoral Symphony are closely related. 120
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026The whole concert was indeed excellent, but I found the Mozart particularly exquisite. 010
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 09/08/2026However much Mozart you think you know, there's always something new and beautiful to discover. 180
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Berlioz giving us drugged up music in Symphonie fantastique almost 200 years before Trainspotting The Musical was dreamt of. 000
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 08/08/2026On top of everything else, The Hundred don't treat their between match live musicians well. 010
Simon Leeson @simonleeson.bsky.social · 07/08/2026I enjoyed Oberon last night, but can see why it is a rarity. It was such a committed performance from all involved that made it worthwhile. Another piece new to me this evening with the Respighi, but the Rossini I have very fond memories of singing in once. 020
