Well, that was fun.  Classical concerts could do with more scream trumpet.  They could also do with more audience - I entered the arena with 10 minutes to go and was ticket 109.

The Torke chugged merrily along in a generic Olympic music manner, but I found myself enjoing it more than my recording or the wind band arrangement I've played.  I was slightly surprised that it didn't use a bigger orchestra, but relieved that the scoring allowed it to sparkle rather than swamp.

What was the scoring in the Adams that meant the horn sounded like a cymbal from Peking opera?  I couldn't see what was being played simultaneously.

I felt the Meditations the weakest part of the concert, the cellist struggled to be heard even though she wasn't playing in direct oppostion to all ten percussionists.  At leat there was no coughing in the quiet bits though.

The band - plus saxes - really let their hair down for Harlem.  The end was encored (with some added jazz thrown in) and everybody went home happy.

NB