With a fresh lick of teal paint on their harpsichord, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s 2026 season has begun with a ‘burst of Baroque’, as described by Artistic Director Paul Dyer.

The program consists of Handel, Marcello, Bach, Vivaldi, Pachelbel and Quantz, and takes the Melbourne Recital Centre audience on an energising and stylish evening of sunlit Italianate charm and finely etched German counterpoint, delivered with the orchestra’s trademark theatrical sparkle.

The concert runs nearly 25 minutes over the advertised time (so plan your homeward travel with caution), but nothing feels too superfluous. Even Pachelbel’s Canon, which often feels like an arduous dredge through the 28 repetitions of the famous basso ostinato, is light and charming. I will always pity the cellos, though.

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Masters. Photo © Laura Manariti

Handel’s Concerto Grosso in G is a lovely opening. The Adagio is especially beautiful – its fugal imitations showcase the ABO’s uncanny ability to enter into conversation with one another on stage. The Allegros are invigorating too, with Dyer literally jumping from his seat at the harpsichord as the energy rises.

The Marcello Concerto for Oboe and the Quantz Concerto for...