It’s been six months since the last Adelaide Symphony Orchestra concert in Adelaide’s Festival Theatre, and while ASO members and musicians all over the world have devised some wonderful online presentations to circumvent the COVID lockdowns, there is no substitute for being in the auditorium with live music.

Natsuko Yoshimoto. Photo © Claudio Raschella

The Festival Theatre was packed to half capacity – every second seat must be left vacant – and there was a palpable air of excitement and anticipation amongst the eager audience as they were guided to their seats by the COVID marshals. This ASO concert was a special event staged to acknowledge the support of the ASO’s many subscribers and particularly to mark the final season of its much-loved concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto’s long and distinguished occupancy of that vital position. And in Beethoven’s 250th year, Yoshimoto took on the role of soloist to tackle a pinnacle of the violin concerto repertoire, Beethoven’s unique and wondrous Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 of 1806. Prior to her 12 impressive years with the ASO, Yoshimoto was the first violinist in the Australian String Quartet and the Grainger...