Regular fans of the excellent Utzon Music Series got to hear the best sister act in town when Latvian violin-cello duo Kristine and Margarita Balanas made their Sydney Opera House debut at the weekend.

With an eclectic and entertaining program, the siblings dazzled a packed audience with their impeccable technique and, it has to be said, glamorous stagecraft with works that ranged from the Baroque to the 21st century, including two by contemporary Australian composers.

Kristine Balanas and Magaira Balanas, Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House. Photo © Ravyna Jassani

Both in their early 30s, the sisters have created an impressive online presence as well as appearing as soloists with several leading orchestras. Kristine’s short videos of a violinist’s mishaps have gone viral on YouTube. They include a snapped string mid-performance, a light globe exploding and an airline public announcement interrupting a practice session.

The duo brought a radiance to the room’s small stage, backlit by stunning views of the sunlit Harbour, starting off with the perfect warm-up in Johan Halvorsen’s arrangement of George Frideric Handel’s Passacaglia in G minor for violin and cello. From its stately and buttoned-up start, the variations gradually...