Australian Baroque presents another gorgeously curated and thoughtful program to round off their excellent collaboration with West Australian Opera soloists in 2024; a concert featuring the highly appealing New Zealand-born mezzo soprano Brigitte Heuser.

In this concert, Heuser proves that mezzos can also be show ponies as much as the sopranos when given the solo opportunity to shine by delivering plenty of coloratura fireworks, along with much chocolatey sweet and lyrical singing.

Also featuring impressive and sensitive theorbo playing from Australian multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Pollock and some classy soloistic turns from AD Helen Kruger, this concert was memorable, moving and swoon-worthy.

Australian Baroque and Brigitte Heuser: Le Belle Immagini. Photo supplied

Gratifyingly well attended is this concert at the WA Museum Hackett Hall as our concert begins with Vivaldi’s Andromeda. First an ensemble prelude, and a lovely pensive and seemingly improvised solo from Pollock, who often looks out to the audience in a kind of reverie of his own. His playing is at turns gentle and fluent, and inherently musical.

His presence in the orchestra tonight is a wonderful addition to the sonic world, which also features the additional skilful lutenist/guitarist Alexis Chin seated...