QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
June 16, 2014

It takes an ambitious chamber orchestra to tackle the works of two of the greatest composers of full-scale symphonic repertoire from the early 20th century. The Australian Chamber Orchestra is most certainly not lacking in ambition. Nor, it turns out, are its members lacking in energy or musicianship.

ACO Artistic Director and musical maverick Richard Tognetti is confident that a smaller orchestra is capable of handling the symphonies of Sibelius and Mahler. He is quite right, and while some of the sonic heft of the works might be lost, the intricacy and expression, which are the essence of these two composers’ symphonies, remains intact.

Before kicking off the night’s program, however, the ACO treated the audience to a surprise prelude. To christen the latest member of the ACO Instrument family – a rare Joseph Guarneri filius Andreæ violin dating from 1714 – violinist Rebecca Chan performed the beautiful Sibelius Serenade No 2, Op. 69, for violin and orchestra, with the orchestral parts covered by a quartet from the ensemble.

In April this year, a lot of fuss was being made over a study that involved blindfolded violinists being asked to pick old from new violins by...