First night of Proms at St Jude's Hampstead Garden Suburb

The first night of the proms saw the youthful Fantasia Orchestra - under the baton of Tom Fetherstonhaugh - bring an exciting freshness to music that in the case of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue is 100-years-old.

An American Celebration showcased the confident energy of melting pot 20th Century New York City, first in Bernstein's 1957 overture to his masterpiece West Side Story.

Fantasia Orchestra under the baton of Tom Fetherstonhaugh performed Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris (Image: Michael Eleftheriades)

With its haunting refrain for Somewhere, and Latin American influences of the Dance at The Gym it made you want to hear the entire score played by this talented ensemble.

But what followed was hardly disappointing, the sultry opening Clarinet glissando for a piece whose blend of European symphonic tradition and American jazz was an instant hit at its 1924 premiere.

Pianist Martin James Bartlett, curls bouncing, brought a playful up tempo energy to Gershwin's rapturous Rhapsody, deftly switching between the syncopated jazz rhythms and great classical flourishes.

Pianist Martin James Bartlett played Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin (Image: Michael Eleftheriades)

The audience enjoyed snacks and a glass of Pimm's and wine in the refreshment marquees before diving in for second half and the more challenging Three Places in New England by Charles Ives. Snatches of hymns, marching tunes, and paraphrased folk songs echoed through piece which harks back to the American War of Independence and Civil War.

Then it was back to Gershwin and his jazzy, symphonic poem to the sights and atmosphere of the French capital An American in Paris complete with taxi horns.

St Jude on the Hill in Hampstead Garden Suburb is the venue for many of the concerts (Image: Michael Elefthiarides)

Once again the feelgood factor was flowing as the bluesy trumpet melody brought The Jazz Age to St Jude's on the Hill.

You can't argue with Gershwin himself, who wrote in response to criticism that it had no place on a classical music bill: 'It's not a Beethoven Symphony. It's a humorous piece, nothing solemn about it. It's not intended to draw tears. If it pleases symphony audiences as a light, jolly piece, a series of impressions musically expressed, it succeeds.'

Joe Stilgoe and Liza Pullman performed All That Dazzles at St Jude's Church in Hampstead Garden Suburb (Image: Michael Eleftheriades)

Sunday night saw a duet by Belsize Park-raised songstress Liza Pullman and pianist Joe Stilgoe and their comical canter through The Great American Songbook and other tunes in All That Dazzles.

Lashings of wit, virtuoso piano playing and the vocals of the Fascinating Aida star came together in songs by Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, Billy Joel, and Paul McCartney.

Over the two days of lit-fest The Henrietta Barnett School hosted a range of talks by the likes of David Baddiel discussing My Family: The Memoir, Royal biographer Robert Hardman on his book Charles III, food writer Fuschia Dunlop and her celebration of Chinese food Banquet, and historian David Kynaston in conversation with David Aaronovitch about his latest book: A Northern Wind: Britain 1962-65.

The Proms at St Jude's continues throughout the week with a programme of concerts, walks, workshops, schools events culminating in a family weekend with a host of activities in Central Square and a fabulous last night of the Proms on June 30.