A SURPRISE fly-past by the Red Arrows provided the first surge of “Wow!” factor.

So it was appropriate that the BSO should look to the skies again for inspiration in the first of their encores – an exhilarating account of The Dam Busters March.

This time the Wow! sprang from a combination of music, fireworks and the sheer enjoyment of being part of the BSO open-air experience.

Friday’s picnic prom, conducted by Matthew Wood, featured a varied and well balanced programme, including the elegant (Rossini’s Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers), the exuberant (Tchaikovsky’s Waltz and Polonaise from Eugene Onegin) and the exotic (Dance Bacchanale by Saint-Saens).

John Williams was represented by two items reflecting his remarkable range – the magical, mischievous Harry Potter suite at one end of the spectrum and at the other the music to Schindler’s List, the poignant main theme articulated with sensitivity by Duncan Liddell on violin.

Presenter Stewart Collins, as always, was good company (“All those of you who have been waving flags have burnt off enough calories to qualify for another pork pie,” he declared after our cruise along The Blue Danube), although we needed little prompting to get into the spirit of the “Last Night” favourites.

David Ross