Our desserts, too, were thrilling interpretations of traditional ones: an exquisite cake called pinza, a sort of firm custard studded with raisins for flavor in a crust served with cold zabaglione as a sauce, and cremini fritti, delicious deep-fried cubes of custard.
The night's narrative was driven by something more elusive than plot, though, and the wonder was divided equally between the songs themselves and the many thrilling interpretations.
But entertainment is the name of the game and quickly the dancers are thrilling the audience with interpretations of Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly and Barry White.
Lovely ladies but, when it comes to fashion, their main consideration is something with "a sense of fun", and while I'm all for fun in regards to, I don't know, sprinkles on a cupcake, I'm less thrilled by their interpretation of the word, which tends to mean superfluous frills, strange collars and, as you say, oddly shaped coats.
There is, even 11 years after the ceasefires, and even with the paramilitaries' occasionally liberal interpretation of the term, something thrilling to someone of my age, bumping around these streets late on a summer's night.
The shift away from a long-assumed male supremacy in astrological interpretation, by both genders, to increasing equality has been central, triggering confusion and occasional upset, yet thrilling breakthroughs.
It was something for the list of guilty pleasures: those who argue that such an explosive interpretation violates the spirit of Chopin's meditative work are probably right, but in purely visceral terms, it was thrilling all the same.
It was thrilling, just thrilling.
