After dinner, they went to Royal Albert Hall for the Concert for the Allies. Stephen's tickets, obtained at the last minute, were for two seats far back in the huge, ornate circular building with one of the world's largest pipe organs. The hall, built in 1870 and used for sporting events as well as concerts, was packed that night with over 6,000 people from most of the Allied nations.
The London Symphony's conductor for the concert was Sir Henry Wood who in his seventies had become beloved for leading the noontime Promenade Concerts at Royal Albert Hall during the war. Begun by pianist Dame Myra Hess, they helped take Londoners' minds off the bombings and threat of invasion.
As Barbara expected, the concert began with everyone standing and singing "God Save the King." Barbara hoped she wasn't disrespectful, for silently substituting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the King.
Stephen seemed distracted during the opening selection honoring the British, Sir Ralph Vaughan Williams's A Lark Ascending. He kept looking around them, as if wondering where some annoying noise was coming from.
After the short, very quiet and pastoral piece concluded, he leaned over to Barbara and whispered, "Would you mind taking off your wristwatch? I hear its ticking."
She nearly died, not sure whether to laugh or think he was crazy.
The ticking of my wristwatch spoiled the music for him? She took off her watch and put it in her purse thinking she was learning more about him, little by little. Because of his smoking, she knew he could be nervous, too. And the wristwatch incident convinced her he certainly was more sensitive than she thought.
She also thought he was even more adorable than ever. He was a man; there was no doubt about that. But he was sometimes like a little boy, too.
Stephen seemed to enjoy the rest of the concert, as she did.
The Allied nations were then honored, each in their turn. Barbara thought it was appropriate that the United States of America was represented by George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. The haunting opening bars for clarinet drew cheers from the audience.
Afterward followed some Chinese folk music, then Richard Addinsell's Warsaw Concerto and Chopin's Heroic Polanaise for the Polish. Then Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies to represent the European countries that had swiftly and brutally fallen to Hitler's armies.
For Australia and the rest of the British Commonwealth of nations, the orchestra played "Waltzing Matilda." In honor of the Free French and their underground, "The Last Time I Saw Paris" and "The Marseilles." For the Soviets, the orchestra played a rousing Russian Easter Overture which not everyone in the hall seemed to enjoy. Barbara thought the choice to represent Russia was too religious for the Communists who squirmed in their seats. She wondered if it was played to make a religious statement to them.