They’re standing in their seats, swaying and clapping, singing, chanting and flicking their shoulders in time to the rhythms. All thoughts of convention and gravitas are dispelled by this visceral audience reaction erupting in response to the fiery performance by the charismatic South African composer, singer and cellist Abel Selaocoe with percussionist and colleague Sidiki Dembélé. Helena Rathbone leads the Australian Chamber Orchestra in this concert, part of its 50th anniversary season.

Abel Selaocoe and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Photo © Nic Walker

Selaocoe draws heavily on the musical heritage of his youth, combining it with Western musical aesthetics from his classical training, creating not just a new approach to music and its performance, but one that is popular and inclusive with a social message.

The cello might seem like a cumbersome and static instrument. It is played seated, held protectively in front of the body. However, there are cellists like Giovanni Sollima, whose composition When We Were Trees we hear later, who have transcended this mould, strolling about the stage whilst playing, bringing movement into their performance. Selaocoe continues this trend, devising new sounds and techniques and adopting repertoire that...