Last Night of the Proms

This was British conductor Sir Andrew Davis's final Proms concert, after which he was to leave the BBC orchestra -- which he'd directed for 11 years -- and move on to Chicago. Held in the huge, sumptuous Royal Albert Hall, it's a rousing evening of music including some Bach, Mozart, and Elgar; a high point is a violin solo by 20-year-old American prodigy Hilary Hahn. Best of all is the finale, including Pomp and Circumstance, a setting of maritime songs, Rule Britannia, and God Save the Queen -- all performed before not only the delighted flag-waving crowd at the hall but also, simultaneously on huge outdoor screens, before enthusiastic crowds at Hyde Park and at parks in Birmingham and even a somewhat rainy Liverpool.