Don Quixote, A Musical Quest offered two marvellous works – a Mozart piano concerto followed by Richard Strauss’s glorious tone poem based on Cervantes’ famous story about a delusional nobleman who believes he is a Knight chasing what appears to be an impossible dream.

Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Umberto Clerici, states in the program notes that he wanted to expand the concert experience with literature, theatre and drama, to make it a more immersive experience. At the same time, he was able to showcase the talents and skills of key orchestral players, particularly the cello and viola, who respectively represent musically the characters of Don Quixote and his sidekick, Sancho Panza.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, the most dramatic of his concertos and regarded by many as his finest, was the opening work on the program with Brisbane-born, internationally acclaimed Piers Lane as soloist.

Piers Lane and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Photo supplied

The Allegro opened gently with key notes from the flute and oboe, and some dramatic playing from the strings, before the delicate entry of the soloist. As the orchestra took over the melody,...