Performer: Maxime Bibeau

The Finnish composer/pianist's refined and idiosyncratic musical style makes for a great collaboration with the ACO solo string players.

In their Sydney season-opener, the ACO with guest players from ANAM deliver a thoroughly satisfying account of two 19th-century standards and introduce two new works to Australian audiences.

Richard Tognetti brings Baroque masterworks to Melbourne along with the world premiere of Kats-Chernin's new work for strings, Singing Trees.

Spirited and nuanced string playing from the Australian Chamber Orchestra with guest violinist Stefan Jackiw and bassist Maxime Bibeau in a program that began and ended with Mendelssohn.

Pairing music from the 18th and 20th centuries is a common programming strategy, one which can bring out interesting parallels between the musical preoccupations of two very different eras. Some 20th-century composers looked to the more distant past as a way of engaging with traditions before the emotionally coercive 19th century.