The SF Symphony's Summer in the City is all about giving the audience easy aural pleasure. The program we attended included Dvořák's New World Symphony, a Beethoven piano concerto No. 5, and a Slavonic Dance (again by Dvořák.) But easy pleasure didn't mean't mean that these were dumbed down. Famous pieces, yes; but these are still important works, and highly difficult to perform.

And the SF Symphony, clad in white (who knew they had home and away jerseys?), is not taking the warhorse nature of the program for granted, and they played with their hearts. Assistant conductor James Gaffigan wagged his baton like his life depended on it. He imparted an energetic, almost bombastic take on the Dvořák pieces. Although we would have appreciated a more light-handed approach to the Slavonic Dance, instead of the square rendition slightly devoid of swing. Nevertheless, it's nice to be able to enjoy Gaffigan before he lands some music director gig somewhere.