Following the recent success of Daniil Trifonov’s performances of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra continued its streak of world-class soloists with Canadian violinist James Ehnes.

Concluding his two-month Australian tour as the MSO’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, Ehnes opened the evening with Brahms’ monumental Violin Concerto in D major.

Jaime Martín guided the MSO in a tight ensemble that matched Ehnes’ relentless drive and rapid arpeggiation in the Allegro first movement. Despite the challenging acoustics of Hamer Hall – which often compromise the projection of string instruments – Ehnes’ sound prevailed over the large orchestral forces, with a wealth of tonal colour and dynamic contrast. His technical command of both his instrument and Brahms’ writing came to the forefront in the cadenza by Joseph Joachim, for whom the concerto was composed, making its demanding shifts and arpeggios seem effortless.

Ehnes’ serene lyricism and musical sincerity shone in the Adagio movement, which opened with a well-rounded wind section. Acting Associate Principal Oboist Johannes Grosso’s lyrical solo introduced the theme with grace. Ehnes’ expansive, song-like melodies in this movement were never overly indulgent but overflowed with beauty and warmth.