An all-American programme centred upon the music of Gershwin, and conducted by North Carolina-born David Charles Abell, rounded off the BSO’s Saturday Nights at Seven series with some of the most enjoyable works from across the pond.

Classic FM’s Jamie Crick gave us the low-down on most of the ensuing music in his usual ebullient style and Joanna MacGregor featured as soloist in Gershwin’s brilliant Rhapsody in Blue.

There was no holding back from this work’s improvisatory nature, Abell encouraging all soloists to exercise instrumental timbres starting with Kevin Bank’s elegantly evocative clarinet introduction.

MacGregor’s ravishing performance was thoroughly idiomatic and very warmly received.

History was made here when Abell proudly announced the first public performance since 1946 of Robert Russell Bennett’s arrangement of some Gershwin tunes in The Gershwin Nobody Knew, which included two items Bennett had heard Gershwin perform twenty years prior, yet were never committed to paper! And a delightful piece it is!

Gershwin’s Girl Crazy Overture set the scene for an irresistible roster of rhythmic and melodic works that included a spectacular account of the Four Dance Episodes from Copland’s ballet Rodeo and three more from Bernstein’s musical On the Town, concluding with a superb recreation of the day and night clamour and glamour of An American in Paris.

And for good measure, encored with Gershwin’s charmingly humorous Walking the Dog.

Just dandy!