One of the most charming aspects of The Metropolitan Orchestra is the sense of community it brings to its performances.

The performers are seated at ground level, with a handful of brass performers spilling onto the stage behind. Before the show begins and at intermission, musicians jump up to talk to their families and friends in the audience, or take a final opportunity to nail down some of the passages of the work.

The Metropolitan Orchestra. Photo supplied

While it doesn’t hold the same sense of refinement and mystery as a state orchestra, the Met Orchestra happily lifts the curtain, welcoming its audience into a direct, untangled relationship with the players and the music they are performing.

This impression is further amplified by engaging programming and the choice of venue. A gentle afternoon performance of familiar works is a perfect entry into the orchestral sphere, and a season program boasting a number of premieres from Australian composers is a firm show of support to the local music scene (something state orchestras don’t always manage to do). Moreover, in this case,...