Last week heralded an unprecedented event in Australian classical music. For the first time in our history, two world-class Australian symphony orchestras performed at the Sydney Opera House on the same day.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, under its Chief Conductor, Simone Young, performed an all-Strauss matinee. Three hours later, the Australian World Orchestra, under my direction, took to the same stage and performed an all-Mahler program – his 4th and 5th Symphonies – never before performed together in Australia.

On the same night, Opera Australia’s La bohème was also playing next door in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

Alexander Briger conducts the Australian World Orchestra in Mahler 4 & 5. Photo © Daniel Boud.

Why is this such a cause for celebration? Because all three performances were total sell-outs. Indeed, AWO had standing room only with the choir stalls and organ gallery also filled. Long standing ovations, five-star reviews from every critic, three major classical music events on one day and night, in one place – with every...