You would expect the Sheldonian to be filled to capacity for a world-famous orchestra, but there were, surprisingly, several empty seats at last Friday's concert by the BSO. Perhaps audiences were tempted to stay away by Luminox (see below), and certainly its spectacular sights provided a stunning diversion during the interval.

Inside, though, things were equally thrilling. Conductor Vassily Sinaisky appeared in buoyant mood, no doubt relishing the sheer variety and challenges of the programme. Mendelssohn's evocative Hebrides Overture was a glorious opening, with the orchestra vividly recreating the composer's impression of the remote western isle. This tasty appetiser was followed by Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, gloriously delivered with a fine sense of the varying emotions by all concerned. Tenor Mark Padmore was occasionally in danger of being swamped by the orchestra, particularly in the lower register where he is at his weakest, but otherwise this was a splendid evocation of the pastoral and nocturnal nature of Britten's setting of six English poems. Padmore's voice is remarkable for its expressive quality and extensive upper range, both essential attributes for this work. Particularly memorable was the wistfulness he injected into the "answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying" refrain in Tennyson's The splendour falls. No less impressive was David Pyatt's horn accompaniment - although it was a shame that during his solo moments the noise outside filtered through.

Pyatt had another chance to shine, though, in Mozart's Horn Concerto No.3, delivering a brilliantly realised account of this joyous and witty work, with a masterful technique and a seemingly effortless virtuosity.

Anything that followed could have seemed an anti-climax, but Beethoven's Eighth Symphony ensured that the cheery mood continued unabated. In this, at last, the orchestra had a real chance to shine, and they seized the opportunity with glee, exploring the composer's rich tapestry of rhythmic and thematic ideas to bring the evening to an uplifting finale.