Following heavier programs earlier in the Festival, Kathryn Stott described Bellissimo Baroque as “sorbet”, but this concert of Italian – and Italian inspired – baroque music was a meal in itself. Neal Peres Da Costa won the prize for most notes, opening the concert solo before he was joined by an ever increasing number of musicians as the evening wore on. He brought a stylish verve to the outer movements of JS Bach’s Italian Concerto – the harpsichord offering fascinatingly different textures for those used to hearing this music on piano – but it was his spare, haunting rendition of the Andante middle movement that was the real highlight.

Liza Ferschtman and Jennifer Stumm at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Photo © Andrew Rankin

Peres Da Costa was soon joined by American violist Jennifer Stumm, who brought an incredibly sonorous, mellow timbre to madrigals by Monteverdi, with lute-like textures from the harpsichord, culminating in the duet Pur ti miro from the final scene of The Coronation of Poppea with Dutch violinist Liza Ferschtman.

Roberto Carrillo-Garcia brought character, and impressive agility to Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord in D...