​It’s dramatic, it’s angst-ridden, it’s thrilling. And Beethoven’s Egmont Overture is just the beginning.

Australian cellist Benett Tsai leads the charge in Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No. 1. There are no frills attached – the cello is off and away from the very first beat, resonant, spectacular, and fiery with passion.

From blazing energy to the bite of winter, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 was a difficult labour of love for the freshly graduated composer. Known as Winter Daydreams, among a landscape of bitter cold you’ll find a little bit of magic: the swirl of snowfall, and the icy sparkle of nature’s most melancholic season.