Milanese baritone Renato Dolcini’s Australian Brandenburg Orchestra debut performances in 2022 were limited to Sydney thanks to COVID. He’s back, now in three capitals, with a program exploring works from four prominent Italian cities.

The Brandies’ third outing for the 2026 season is a delightful, varied journey featuring acclaimed composers of the Italian Baroque as well as less familiar names such as Giovanni Lorenzo Gregori.

Two of his pioneering concerti grossi bookend the concert’s opening Florentine bracket, which otherwise recalls the courtly formality and pared-back orchestration of the Renaissance. A highlight of this sojourn in Florence is Luigi Cozzolino’s take on the ciaccona, which evolved from a 17th-century dance style.

Renato Dolcini and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Italian Serenatas. Photo © Laura Manariti

It’s a rare chance to hear Assistant Principal Violin Matthew Greco as soloist, in a charming conversation with a handful of instruments often overshadowed in full orchestra mode: theorbo, guitar, harp, cello and Artistic Director Paul Dyer’s harpsichord. It’s not the only time Brian Nixon’s precise and diverse percussion adds a pleasant layer of intrigue to the performance.

The most memorable moment in Florence is Dolcini’s first appearance for a...