Trafalgar Square isn't just home to the Chinese New Year - there are things going on all the time, and this evening the London Symphony Orchestra was playing works by the French composer Berlioz.
As usual, the Square was packed: I got there just after six for a six thirty start, and already you could hardly move. I sneaked into the area reserved for the cafe patrons, where I managed to find a spot to sit down; later a kind gentleman, who preferred to stand, offered me his seat, which was a lot more comfortable than sitting on the hard ground, and also I could at least watch everything on the screen at the side of the stage. Sitting on the ground it was impossible to see anything.
The atmosphere, as usual, was wonderful, with lots of families there enjoying the music in the open air. Mostly English, but with a smattering of other groups. And, of course, all very well behaved - no rowdy football types. Although I did see two people, in the middle of all the crowd, puffing away at a cigarette!
The music was lovely, but they had to omit the Third Movement, due to the noise. Not the noise from the audience, obviously, but from the helicopters overhead and the traffic and the open top buses with their exhuberant occupants. Instead, the audience were invited to join in
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