A bright and breezy Swedish septet – no Scandi noir here – and one of Beethoven’s early big hits were showcased in the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s second live tour of 2021.

The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. Photo © Robert Catto

The tasteful stage arrangement – elegant chandeliers, candelabras perched on classical pedestals, Sheraton-style chairs and a huge gold picture frame suspended from the fly frame – set the scene for the music to come in Sydney’s City Recital Hall where masks were mandatory again following the latest COVID outbreak.

As in the first tour of the year, the orchestra’s brass players featured in a short opening work. A martial fanfare by CPE Bach raised the curtain on that first concert, but for this program, titled Evoke, the mood was more noble and sombre with three Equali for four trombones, written in 1812 and two of which were played at Beethoven’s funeral.

The trombones of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. Photo © Robert Catto

The two alto...