Have Stradivarius. Will travel. Will dazzle. It’s not hard to understand why Australian violin wunderkind, Ray Chen attracts enthusiastic capacity audiences like the one at this concert. The 1715 ‘Joachim’ Stradivarius he plays has full, open tone from top to bottom, and Chen’s prodigious technique is allied to a natural showman mentality. There’s something of the loveable larrikin about him that allows him to connect with a wide range of listeners. Add to the mix Mendelssohn’s perennially popular concerto and you’re on a winner.

Ray ChenRay Chen. Photo © Sophie Zhai

Chen’s account of the Mendelssohn was at the centre of this ‘chamber orchestra’ style concert in which the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was directed by concertmaster Dale Barltrop from the first desk of the violins. An ebullient account of the overture to Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers opened proceedings; oboist Jeffrey Crellin making the first of many well-crafted contributions to the program. An admirable lightness of touch and apt comic timing set the mood and signalled to audience members that they would not be allowed to slip into any post-prandial concert slumber.

Orchestra members, particularly the wind players, were also not allowed any...