The Southern Cross soloists (SXS), under the artistic direction of oboist Tania Frazer, set out to explore some of the richly diverse folk music and traditions of Central Europe in From the Heartland: Vienna to Budapest. Including composers and works from Austria, Moravia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary, this was a judicious program with some reworking of pieces to suit a chamber orchestra.

Mozart’s Horn Concerto No.4, with its famous third movement including the popular ‘hunting horn’ theme, was the first piece. With a buoyant and well-paced string quintet as accompaniment, the Allegro moderato got off to a speedy start, followed by the gentle and melodic theme of the Romance. The final Rondo was briskly played by the strings, with excellent work from the violins. Unfortunately, Nick Mooney’s horn solo was neither bright nor exciting, underwhelming in delivery, while the Rondo failed to ignite.

Czech composer Pavel Fischer’s Two Moravian Songs were given a new treatment by a string quartet with the oboe replacing the vocal line. Jedú chlapci, jedú (Boys on Horseback) had a distinctly eastern European folk quality with its plucked strings.

The violins and viola in the second song, Brodil, Janko konĕ (Janko Waded Horses) were fast and vigorous, while...