Two decades ago German counter tenor Andreas Scholl made his Sydney debut singing with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. He was already a star, known for the muscular purity of his voice, the dramatic intensity of his performances and his easy and open stage manner.

Twenty-one years later, little has changed. At 56, and after a lifetime of care and musical maintenance, his unmistakable tone and security across the range is still there, and the wonderful acoustic of the ACO’s state-of-the-art Sydney concert hall The Neilson was the perfect setting for this unusually intimate and stripped back annual appearance of the Australian World Orchestra with their eminent guest.

Andreas Scholl and Australian World Orchestra. Photo © Prudence Upton

The first half of the program comprised three works showcasing Scholl’s undimmed talent – JS Bach’s cantata Vergnügte Ruh, belieben Seelenlust, Antonio Vivaldi’s introduction from Filice mæstræ Jerusalem and Arvo Pärt’s Ein Wallfahrtslied – with 15 AWO musicians led by violinist Madeleine Easton.

The gentle opening Aria of the cantata emphasised Scholl’s sweet tone, less boyish and innocent now than on his 1998 recording with Philippe Herreweghe, with Emma Black’s oboe d’amore echoing and wrapping...