The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s highly anticipated debut appearance at the BBC Proms has gone down a treat to judge by comments last night on social media. “@MelbSymphony were incredible at the proms tonight. It was possibly the best concert I’ve ever seen,” tweeted Tom Warcaba-Wood while Wendy Northey (AKA Lady Lamington) echoed that, tweeting: “So well done MSO: you DID bring the house down! You’ve done Australia proud.”

Conductor Benjamin Northey who is travelling with the orchestra set the scene via his blog for the MSO tour. “The concert is completely sold out and we are expecting as many as 6000 people in attendance,” he wrote. “There are dozens of people seeking tickets from the orchestra with none to be had, which is quite a nice problem to have really!”

Chief conductor Sir Andrew Davis led the orchestra through Strauss’ Don Juan and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. “Rapturous applause for the debut @bbcproms of the @melbsymphony. Incredible chemistry with #conductor #AndrewDavis,” said Jackie Klein.

In a daring ‘coals to Newcastle’ bit of programming the MSO cheekily offered Elgar’s Cello Concerto played by Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk. The performance received an ovation with one radio listener commenting, “Oh this is achingly, spine-tinglingly sublime! Tears...