This evening’s concert showcased the authentic depth of West Australian conducting and performing talent, both emerging and established, in the thoughtful and elegant rendering of performances of well-loved Classical and Baroque repertoire.

Without dwelling too significantly on a certainly relevant – but also potentially tedious debate for a lay audience – about Historically Informed Performance (HIP) practice issues of more modern symphonic instruments and players performing works now dominated by specialist early music ensembles, I still enjoyed this evening’s concert immensely. To pick HIP bones out of this concert would be doing the performers a great disservice, for the performances were intelligent, thoughtful, and infinitely musical. The audience justifiably adored the concert, and in particular Laurence Jackson’s sensitive, emotive playing and leadership of the Vivaldi ensemble was delightful to behold. Equally deserving of praise was the joy-filled and assured leadership of Josef Haydn’s ‘Farewell’ Symphony No 45 in F sharp minor by ever-impressive Assistant Conductor Jen Winley, along with the refined and elegant style of WASO Associate Principle Double Bass player and emerging conductor, John Keene.

John Keene WASO John Keene conducts Handel’s Water Music Suite, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, 2022....