With the ball, it would seem, superb; without it, less so.
The orchestra's brasses, often in the spotlight in these works, played with an exquisite combination of energy and precision, and the woodwinds, strings and percussion all seemed in superb shape as well.
But most of the surgery performed in South Korea isn't usually too drastic, and seems technically superb.
Fellow-viewers silhouetted behind the scrims — aswim in deeply layered, peaceable torrents of sheep and geometry — make membership in humanity seem a superb idea.
She faces a possible quarterfinal match with Maria Sharapova, who came from behind to beat Li Na to win the Italian Open, but Williams seems in superb physical condition, a vital factor on the slow red clay in Paris.
Mickey Mantle never replaced DiMaggio for me -- alas, I got to know the Mick -- and Reggie Jackson was no enigma, and David Justice, Bernie Williams and Paul O'Neill seem like superb ballplayers and fine men, which is not the fantasy I have in mind.
And, when appropriate, it salivates: Her lithe, solid figure seemed even more superb because of her flawless carriage.
Snow, who has not played much in the past month because Chris Osgood has been superb, seemed to spark the Islanders with his aggressive, confident play.
The puppeteer handling this puppet was superb and seemed to become invisible within minutes of being on stage.
Jokes were tucked into her choreography and arrangements -- one tossed in half a dozen television themes -- as well as her songs, and she gradually won over an audience that seemed unfamiliar with her superb albums.
