With the pandemic changing the way we see and hear live music, arts organisations are having to keep on their feet to meet changing COVID-safe regulations while at the same time staying in business, and the Metropolitan Orchestra have come up with a user-friendly idea for their 2021 season.

With the co-operation of Inner West Council in Sydney they are presenting concerts in smaller venues, closer to their subscriber base, rather than booking larger halls in the CBD. As a bonus the concerts are being live streamed for those who would rather watch them at home.

Sarah-Grace Williams and Svetlana Yaroslavskaya with The Metropolitan Orchestra. Photo courtesy of TMO

Artistic director and conductor Sarah-Grace Williams explained that TMO’s pared-back 13th season would feature the orchestra’s string section in five Met concerts, four chamber concerts and three cushion concerts. However, there was nothing scaled down about the program for the season opener in Petersham Town Hall amid the Art Deco simplicity of the main hall with its warm mango yellow and coffee brown décor.

The four works featured a premiere, a dazzling showcase for TMO flautist Svetlana Yaroslavskaya and a symphony by a composer...