After five years, music returned to Harkness Memorial State Park Saturday night, and the nearly 5,000 people who filled the lawn over Long Island Sound in Waterford clearly were ready for its return.

SoundMusic made its debut with a wholly satisfying performance by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, led by the new concert series’ Music Director Martin Peicuch. Summer Music, the concert series that presented Harkness concerts for 20 years, needed a decade to get the outdoor concert experience down pat. SoundMusic hit the ground running, drawing a good deal on Summer Music’s lessons.

The big tent for the orchestra was on the lower end of the lawn, taking advantage of its natural slope for an amphitheater. A pair of video screens gave the folks on the lawn an up-close view of the musicians on stage. The orchestra arrived as a functioning whole and played wonderfully.

But most heartening was the big turn-out. About 3,500 advance tickets were sold, so it wasn’t a last-minute crowd lured out by the beautiful July evening.

I thought it all went splendidly, far better than you’d expect. There were some amplification problems on the lawn early on, but sound crews were active and attentive.

I wonder what Summer Music regulars thought of SoundMusic. Were you a regular concert-goer at Summer Music who attended last night’s debut? What was your take? As good as Summer Music? Better than Summer Music?

It’s great to have the concerts back, but do you feel they measure up?