I’m not sure whether academics have studied why so many of our great male cellists have big hair, but if not perhaps they should.

Look at the evidence: the distinguished locks of the late Paul Tortelier; Steven Isserlis with his labradoodle curls; Mischa Maisky’s Billy Connolly lookalike white mane and matching beard.

And then there’s Nicolas Altstaedt’s generous coif that leads a life of its own when he attacks his 1749 GB Guadagnini which, for a smaller than normal cello, packs some enormous low end grunt.

Nicolas Altstaedt plays Haydn & Tchaikovsky with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Photo © Nic Walker

The German-French virtuoso is over here directing the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s latest tour for a concert built around works by Joseph Haydn and Pyotr Tchaikovsky. He is no stranger to Australia but this is the first time he has worked with the ACO, and he describes it as “an inspiration which surpasses many dreams”.

Throughout his carefully curated and dynamic programme he engages constantly and enthusiastically with Principal Violin Helena Rathbone and the musical chemistry is both apparent and infectious. Altstaedt pits some modern, unfamiliar works against extracts from Haydn’s Seven Last...