Interval!

Percussion section of the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre

We were lucky enough to be present at a Promenade Concert played by this fine orchestra. The outstanding conductor Valery Gergiev and the orchestra performed the entire score of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

The percussion section was well equipped (here is this photograph at slightly higher resolution), and was capable of making a startling amount of sound at full whack! I can see in the 'photo five sets of timpani sticks of varying hardness, two sizes of clash cymbals, two triangles, as well as bass drum, tam-tam, side drum, xylophone, and an array of instruments for playing, for example, Spanish Dance movements.

Here is a more general view of the orchestra layout.

This is (a very small) part of the great Albert Hall organ.

Why were we at this Prom in the Albert Hall? Well, @Violamaths and her Wonderspouse were initially meant to be at the concert, and were going along with one of their friends and her daughter . But first he, and then she, decided against going to London after the excesses of previous days (see, for example, this entry). At almost the last moment, Mrs Scharwenka and I decided to take both tickets, and also take along the tickets for the friends. We met the mother and daughter, and were delighted to find such a friendly and appreciative mother, and such an outgoing and composed young daughter. Mrs S and I enjoyed ourselves very much, and I think that mother and daughter did as well.