The aptly titled Ray Golding Sunset Series, named after the founder of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, has been a favourite and popular component of this winter festival since its early days. One of the five on offer, the Baroque Magnifico offered two glorious pieces by Vivaldi and two by Evaristo Dall’Abaco plus Heinichen’s oboe concerto, and concluding with Corelli’s virtuosic Concerto grosso.

Jack Liebeck, Artistic Director of the 2022 Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Photo © Kaupo Kikkas

Vivaldi’s short Concerto in G Minor for Strings and Continuo RV 153 opened the concert with brisk playing from the strings, accompanied by a measured Donald Nicolson on harpsichord. Vivaldi composed it without much emphasis on the solo instrument, as was the case in the more virtuosic pieces of the period. Nevertheless, this work has an abundance of musical richness and colour with textural diversity that keeps the listener well engaged.

The opening Allegro movement showed off the splendid violin Baroque style from both Brigid Coleridge and Elizabeth Layton, whose collective animated playing carried the theme beautifully. They are both exceptional players. There was some light-hearted interplay with the first-rate...