Salle: Adelaide Town Hall

This electic performance of Pierrot Lunaire was preceded by a clutch of contemporary Australian works (and a poem), which served to demonstrate that Schoenberg's modernity is still way ahead of the times.

A marvellous Saint-Saëns “Organ Symphony” makes great use of the Adelaide Town Hall organ. 

Manuel de Falla’s rarely performed La Vida Breve and Giacomo Puccini’s comic Gianni Schicchi are quite contrasting mini-operas, united by common threads of deception and the clash of class distinction.

Concerto Italiano excels performing Baroque music, especially the works of Monteverdi. This year it highlights L’Orfeo in its 410th year, and does it exceptionally well.

A great way to celebrate a 40th musical anniversary was to have some fun enjoying many beautiful arias from the pen of Giacomo Puccini.

A scaled-down Adelaide Symphony Orchestra combine with the talented Adelaide Chamber Singers and visiting soloists, under the baton of Baroque specialist Matthew Halls to present a stunning performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Any performance of Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 is always eagerly awaited, but this one was especially, featuring the Australian Chamber Orchestra performing on period instruments, directed from the lead violin by their artistic director Richard Tognetti, with one of the best English collegiate choirs, the choir of Clare College, Cambridge.