Australia’s brightest and shiniest new orchestra chose the superb acoustics of The New Hall at Sydney Grammar School for their third concert, a mixed program of Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert entitled An Evening with the Viennese Titans. An HIP outfit (that’s historically informed performance if you didn’t know), it comprises many of Australia’s finest period instrument specialists as well as several from more mainstream bands. Founded last year under the artistic leadership of Richard Gill, this concert was conducted by Benjamin Bayl – something of a rising star both at home and abroad.

The warm resonance of the SGS hall was perfectly fitted to enhance the richness of the seventeen88 sound with its mellifluous woodwind, punchy brass and beautifully tuned strings. Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus Overture was a terrific curtain-opener full of daring (for the time) dissonances and boisterous energy. Bayl gave it a firm, perfectly formed reading with plenty of dynamic shape and shading. Beefy timpani and some beautiful playing on classical flute stood out in particular.

The flute was to the fore in the second offering – Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major. London-based Australian flautist Georgia Browne was very much in command of the solo part, leading the...