This Balmain Sinfonia concert offered once again a broad range of musical genres, some audience participation and capable concert event organisation. The afternoon’s highlight was the addition of cello soloist Georg Pedersen. He showed his talent as a concerto soloist and an ensemble musician.

There was a rich Nationalistic feel to the programming also. Five of Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and Nielsen’s Symphony No 1, Op 7 acted as bookends for the concert’s more intimate or earlier pieces.

This Nationalistic theme brought an enjoyable richness to the afternoon’s listening. However for me it was the shift to an eighteenth century texture which was a welcome change of tone, colour and challenge for the orchestra. It displayed the skills of the soloist and orchestra well and was a success in stylistic accuracy.

The Balmain Sinfonia shed its grander dramatic guise for this very clear and crisp rendering of Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 1 in C major. The moments of ringing ritornelli and accompagnato sections were equally well played.

The orchestra found a delicate blend above which Pedersen could weave classical gestures. Fluent cadenzas emphasised musicality over mere vituosity and fine thematic variations were well shaped. The ‘Adagio’ movement was sung with particular beauty.

We were lucky to hear this work live and to be exposed to such stylistic contrast on the same afternoon.

Pedersen’s presence enabled the audience to be treated to the interesting Passacaglia by Norwegian string player, Johan Halvorsen, in its version for violin and cello. It was both an exciting string moment and an important part of the program’s architecture.

The Balmain Sinfonia performed at the Macquarie Theatre on Sunday September 1 at 2.30pm. Once again the Balmain Sinfonia delighted audiences with a diverse and varied performance, pleasing its loyal followers and new fans alike.

 Their next concert on December 8, containing Beethoven, Mozart, Sibelius and Mendelssohn promises the same.