The Balmain Sinfonia made a triumphant return on the last day of June with its second concert of the year at its home, the newly refurbished Macquarie Theatre, Macquarie University, North Ryde.

This program presented a substantial and interesting array of music. The audience was treated to a nice blend of much loved works and newer music.

The opening work, Gounod’s waltz music from Faust, displayed the orchestra’s ability to speak with an elegant lilting accent. Some weakness in pitch stability and texture was only fleeting.

The Sinfonia recreated Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No 1 successfully. ‘The death of Aase’ was exquisitely seamless. ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ began very broadly, but increased satisfyingly in tempo and energy leading towards  strong climax.

The concert concluded with Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 1 in D minor. Instrumental exchanges shone thanks to conductor Gary Stavrou’s fine interpretation of this sprawling work. Efforts of the percussion and wind sections were particularly notable.

Any orchestral concert is made more exciting by the inclusion of a premiere or a modern work. Here, bass trombonist Brett Page collaborated well with the Balmain Sinfonia’s strings in a nicely balanced version of Eric Ewasen’s Rhapsody for Bass Trombone and String Orchestra (1998).

Many comments at interval rejoiced in the chance to hear a major work for the bass trombone played so virtuosically. The score’s full range of possibilities for bass trombone was beautifully explored by soloist and orchestra.

This well organised and structured concert in the Macquarie Theatre pleased musically and as an arts event in general.

There were even fun giveaways and moments involving the eager audience’s participation. The next program on the first day of spring looks equally rewarding and unmissable.