Entering her sixth season as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Cottis has an obvious affinity with this this very capable ensemble. 

It may be her conducting style – at once both unaffected and energetic. It may be her affectionate introductions to the works and why she’s chosen to perform them. Or it might be the way she warmly acknowledges the efforts of her players before she turns to the audience to take her bow. 

Whatever magic she weaves, the CSO seems more comfortable in her hands than with some guest conductors.  

Enigma Variations: Jessica Cottis conducts the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Arianne Schlumpp

This concert – as ambitious in form as the grandeur it expresses – is thoroughly engaging. Cottis explains that the program was inspired by the theme of friendship. In the case of Prokofiev’s Symphony-Concerto – his third attempt at a cello concerto – the friendship was between Prokofiev and younger cellist (and loyal defender) Mstislav Rostropovich.

For Elgar in his mysteriously titled Enigma Variations, 13 of the 14 movements impersonate qualities of various friends (his wife Caroline...