For me, this was the final concert of the New York Philharmonic until the new seasons starts in September. Conducted by Bramwell Tovey, the orchestra presented an interesting array of lesser-known and well-known music with a “space” theme.

• John Adams – Short Ride in a Fast Machine
• Offenbach – Ballet of the Snowflakes from The Trip to the Moon
• Jos. Strauss – Music of the Spheres
• Holst – The Planets (backed by the film, The Planets – An HD Odyssey)

I enjoyed Tovey’s usual commentary before each selection. He’s humorous and sets a relaxed tone to what could be a little stuffy (going to the symphony). While the playing wasn’t the best I’ve heard from the Philharmonic (it sounded under-rehearsed), I enjoyed a program of music I largely hadn’t heard previously. While I am familiar with Holst’s The Planets, I didn’t know the story behind it. I didn’t think the film added much, though – just a bunch of NASA images. After Mars and Venus, it got a little old.

The first of two concerts at the start of each summer hosted by conductor Bramwell Tovey, the 4th of July Summertime Classics concert consisted of appropriately American music – Copland, Bernstein, Sousa and the U.S. Coast Guard Band under the direction of Capt. Kenneth W. Megan.

The program opened with Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo and Tovey’s The Lincoln Tunnel Cabaret featuring Principal Trombonist, Joesph Alessi. I loved the Copland, but the Tovey was nonsense.

The second half featured the Coast Guard Band performing various marches and a band composition by Kenneth Hesketh called Masque and a Clare Grundman arrangement of 4 songs from Bernstein’s Candide.

The program ended with Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. Tovey is a good host, full of humor and charm. I can see why the Philharmonic invites him back year after year.