<p>I happened to watch both of them as they were back to back on PBS and CBS. Enjoyed Boston more than DC.</p>
<p>Agree! DC was not horrible, but just regular.</p>
<p>Agree. But I watched DC and Boston and New York on TV (had to work so couldn’t see the real thing in our hometown). NYC’s fireworks were definitely the best. The music in Boston was excellent, but I liked the National Symphony and Jason Alexander better.</p>
<p>To tell you the truth, I don’t know if DC’s were horrible…they barely showed any of it! The cameramen were trying to frame pretty much every shot (annoying), showing the crowd a lot for extended periods of time, and showing Stevie Wonder for extended periods of time. Furthermore, when they did show the fireworks, they usually focused on only portions of the fireworks display and didn’t give viewers the opportunity to see the whole view. I was also peeved that the smoke from the cannons obscured the fireworks, but I’ll let them slide on that one since it’s hard to control.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed how NYC’s were choreographed with the music well and I liked how all of the music they played was by the symphony.</p>
<p>But I’ll always have a sweet spot for the Boston fireworks, they have always been my favorite and I love the John Williams inspired Boston Pop’s flavor. My fiance said the only thing the Boston show was missing was the 1812 overture, but the display itself was the most impressive.</p>
<p>I enjoyed the NYC program the best but maybe because that’s the one I’ve been to in person in previous years. The beautiful music and how it’s arranged with the visuals is always very well done. The Broadway Inspirational Voices were great, as always, even if they were there on tape! The only part I was disappointed in was the very obvious (and bad!) lip-syncing by Liza!</p>
<p>The 1812 overture was played before the fireworks. There was a brief burst of fireworks to go with the cannons, but the real fireworks show started half an hour later (it used to start right afterwards). It would not be the real thing without the 1812 overture (since 1974). </p>
<p>I did not watch any other concert; I enjoyed the Boston fireworks. I’ve heard better concerts and I thought Dr. Phil did a dreadful job as an emcee.</p>
<p>Dr. Phil was just minor distraction.</p>
<p>the same guy that designed Seattles Lake Union show, orchestrated the Boston program
<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003103396_fireworksman04.html[/url]”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003103396_fireworksman04.html</a></p>
<p>Interesting that Tucker was trained in France. There are fireworks all the time in France, very colorful. I remember taking my 3-year old back from an outing at 11pm (don’t ask why the kids were up at that time). Suddenly, as my brother was driving home, there were fireworks. S and his cousin insisted on staying awake for the whole time. We did not get home until past midnight. The next day, we found out that the fireworks were to celebrate the opening of something or other.</p>
<p>Dr. Phil and his wife were awful. Disappointingly so, in an otherwise very good show.</p>
<p>Sorry to shift the discussion, but yesterday, there were fireworks of another kind, too: the two goals Italy scored in overtime!</p>
<p>Marite, I took my younger D and a friend to an Italian bistro to watch the game ( it was in Spanish)
It was great fun, lots of Italians or at least lots who knew the anthem.
Little kids rolling around on the floor- I felt like I could have been in Italy.
I didn’t go see the fireworks in Seattle although we could see some of them from our yard and I certainly heard them.
Maybe next year-
I do miss when the Mariners were in teh Kingdome and used to have fireworks after every home run</p>
<p>The Boston fireworks were better than DC’s - or at least the TV coverage of them. However, ever since CBS took over the broadcast of the Boston fireworks and concert it has been a major disappointment. When they were covered by A&E they would show the entire music show from start to finish culminating in the 1812 Overture - then the fireworks. The highlight of the show was the 1812 Overture; now it is nothing more than a few seconds worth of prelude to an abbreviated musical show. </p>
<p>And - what were they thinking when they booked Aerosmith? They would be one of the last groups that I would associate with the 4th. I found it funny to see the violinists from the Pops playing along with Aerosmith. I had to mute the TV to get past that part of the musical show.</p>
<p>Fundingfather:</p>
<p>I so agree with you! I miss John Williams.</p>
<p>My son’s favorite and the only composer he knows - he composed star wars.</p>
<p>We attended the Boston fireworks display last night, for the first time since moving to New England. What a wonderful show! We sat on the Cambridge side of the Charles, in front of MIT, and there were large speakers playing the music nearby. It was well worth the effort to attend, and I think we’ll try to go again in the future.</p>
<p>
I set up camp in the same area during my Boston years. At one point, there were huge TV screens up and down Memorial Drive, which let everyone see the concert and take part in the sing along…I’m not sure if they still do that.</p>
<p>Anyway, during my time in Boston, the 4th became one of my favorite holidays. They really do a great job up there.</p>