The title of the concert was a leettle bit off, since the concert began at 7 and was done by around 9. The half-moon was in attendance, but the stars were not yet out, as the sun was still setting.

Guest conductor Huw Edwards stood in for Andrew Sewell, trading a Welshman for the usual Kiwi. Christine Buckstead provided the soprano solos for the evening.

Among the pieces played that evening were Jean Joseph Mouret's Rondeau from Suite de Symphonie most familiar, Mr. Edwards explained, as the opening theme music to Masterpiece Theater. He joked that it was quite funny that the theme to a BBC television showed should be by a French composer. Also played were Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks" and Bizet's "Carmen Suite No. 1".

Ms. Buckstead gave an entertaining rendition of "Olympia's Song" from Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman, complete with wound-down mechanical doll action. She also sparkeld as Cunegonde, singing "Glitter and Be Gay" from Leonard Bernstien's Candide, though I found the spoken section of the song to be slightly tedious.

The evening was as lovely as the music, and I was lucky enough to have placed my blanket amongst people who didn't feel the need to chatter non-stop throughout the music. I'm looking forward to this week's concert, themed a"Night for Dancing" and featuring the Manhattan Rhythm Kings.