The South Bank Show Awards - The Dorchester

Odd. I've spent the last year wondering what the hell I'm going to do post South Bank Show and here I am at the Dorchester rubbing shoulders with the great and good as if nothing has happened. I sat next to trumpeter extraordinaire, Alison Balsom who was presenting the classical music award. Surely she should have been receiving a gong for her excellent recording of the Haydn and Hummel trumpet concertos, not giving one away. In the event, the squiggly trophy went to the CBSO and Halle for their joint Nielsen season. Mark Elder made some lovely comments about the SBS which was very gracious of him considering Melvyn had turned down the chance to make a programme about his sterling work to revitalise the Halle. Most annoying moment: Elaine Page getting the giggles during David Alden's acceptance speech for ENO's Peter Grimes. He did go on a bit though. Overall a great ceremony, David Attenborough sent Melvyn off with a well earned Lifetime Achievement Award. Standing ovations, tears and, and as Melvyn would say, that's that. The end of a wonderful era.