Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, one of the world’s foremost period-instrument ensembles. Early keyboard virtuoso Kristian Bezuidenhout. Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg, probably in her vocal prime. A program showcasing the glittering musical genius of Mozart. What’s not to like?

After kicking off their 2025 Australian tour the night before, the German orchestra and Bezuidenhout returned to Melbourne’s Elisabeth Murdoch Hall to once again display their exciting combination of technical and artistic excellence.

Berlin-based Stagg, who has never sounded better in my (regretfuly limited) experience, was their equal for this one-off concert.

Kristian Bezuidenhout, Siobhan Stagg and Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Photo © Laura Manariti

Freiburger Barockorchester, as they are known at home in Germany, opened the concert with the overture from one of Mozart’s not so well known early operas, La finta giardiniera. Led by co-Artistic Director Gottfried von der Goltz on violin, the orchestra’s brisk, elegant interpretation immediately revealed how responsive the players are to each other.

Stagg joined them for three concert arias. In clear, evocative Italian, she sang with great control and agility, whether sustaining low, creamy low notes or racing up to ringing highs.

For the third of these arias, Ch’io mi scordi...