On 1 April 2017, I took a stroll through Hyde Park at dusk with members of my family before attending the Spring Concert of the King’s College London Symphony Orchestra at Holy Trinity Church, South Kensington, London. The musical director was Jonathan Lo, the leader, Rebecca Babbage, the assistant conductor, Igor Maia, and the guest conductor, James Ham. Debbie Barnes was the bassoon soloist. There was a programme with a nautical twist: Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Op.27, followed by Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B-flat K.191, then Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides Op.26 and finally, Debussy’s La Mer.
