Novo and the ASO musicians returned to Broadway for the next medley, from Man of La Mancha, which had great romantic appeal, especially in "The Impossible Dream."
The first section of the program closed with all-American composer Aaron Copland in two movements from his 1942 ballet score Rodeo - "Saturday Night Waltz" and the more familiar "Hoedown" - both played with enthusiasm.
Whenever the rhythms became irresistible children began dancing in the lawn, providing pure enchantment.
After a 15-minute intermission it was announced that a severe thunderstorm was headed our way, and Novo decided to skip "Olympic Fanfare" (saying we'd be hearing that work often next month) in hopes of getting in the rest of the program, including the fireworks.
Novo then introduced the winner of an earlier ASO fundraising contest, Joanna Hanes-Lahr, who took her place on the conductor's podium to open the second half of the program, a sprightly rendition of John Phillip Sousa's "Liberty Bell March."
Hanes-Lahr's conducting debut was followed by Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture to accompany some speeded-up fireworks. It was exciting to see and hear nature's own fireworks in the form of lightning and thunder before the man-made ones began.
We drove off the community college campus in Arnold about 9:30 p.m. to the accompaniment of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever," and we continued to hear the popping of fireworks all the way back to Severna Park.
We arrived home to pelting rain.
Our all-American celebration couldn't have been better scripted by Hollywood and this dramatic finale underscored Novo's and the ASO musicians' programming flexibility and impeccable timing.
A concert that had initially seemed underwhelming became a fabulous holiday adventure to remember.
Another outdoor Annapolis Symphony concert is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at Quiet Waters Park.
