It seems to me that, in a rational world, it would cost a whole lot less—and be a helluva lot more friendly, especially considering the nature of the group and the purpose of their trip to the U. S.—for a couple of U. S. Embassy bureaucrats with rubber stamps to make the trip to Manchester and do the paperwork there than it would to make the whole orchestra to go to the trouble and expense of traveling to London and blowing a couple of days there just to participate in a ritual that would probably take about five minutes per person.

But then, what the hell do I know?

". . . and no music. . . ."

Don Firth