The BSO appointed Alsop, currently the music director of England's Bournemouth Symphony, in July over the objections of most of its musicians, who wanted the orchestra to continue the search process. But both Alsop and the musicians have made efforts to banish any remaining bad feelings, according to the Sun: Alsop met with the players before she signed her contract with the orchestra; more recently, union head Jane Marvine presented Alsop with a rose when she visited Baltimore for a photo session.

Last night's audience also seemed ready to welcome the music director designate (she begins her tenure officially in 2007). She got a lengthy ovation at the beginning of the program, the Sun says, and was "received warmly" after leading Christopher Rouse's Symphony No. 1.

Sun critic Tim Smith was pleased, on the whole, with Alsop's performance as well, writing that "she had the symphony flowing on a forceful current that generated some heated playing."