While only the Emperor Concerto is advertised, this SSO concert is something of a mini-Beethovenfest. Under Simone Young’s direction, we heard his Symphony No. 1 and Piano Concerto No. 2, as well as the Concerto No. 5, the Emperor.

The pianist was Javier Perianes, who gave an impressive solo recital two nights earlier in the same concert hall.

A Classical-period-sized Sydney Symphony Orchestra responded with precision to Young’s batonless conducting. She has a distinctive way of shaping phrases with great clarity, using expressive hand gestures. This was not a performance of historically informed practice, but it was elegant and well proportioned nonetheless.

Precision marked the first movement, where Young took the repeat. In the refined counterpoint of the slow movement, her approach could be labelled aristocratic. By contrast, the third movement moved at a good lick, especially in the opening theme. (It was reined in with the entry of the two horns.)

The delightful finale was pure joy, an emotion that Beethoven gradually abandoned later in his composing life. This was a lovely performance of a work that is a minor masterpiece, overshadowed only by Beethoven’s major masterpieces.