For this concert, the Southern Cross Soloists were joined by guest New Zealand violinist Amalia Hall. She’s played with the ensemble before, but only at the Bangalow Music Festival, and not at QPAC. Rather enjoyably, this concert was presented in the QPAC Concert Hall in “reverse mode”, with the audience in the seating behind the stage, and the performers facing away from the main auditorium. It’s quite a different feeling looking down at the performers, rather than seeing them off on a distant stage, and generates an intimate vibe from the get-go.

Amalia Hall and Tania Frazer with the Southern Cross Soloists. Photo © Darren Thomas

The “Lyrical Reflections” of the title draw together pieces which are intended to offer listeners “a pastoral and reflective escape to memories of wandering alone through nature”. As they say, “visions of the beautiful and gently tranquil countryside have long inspired composers to recreate images of rural idylls through their music”. As a program, it’s a bit vague, but it’s a decent enough excuse to play these pieces.

The concert began with Bach’s Concerto for violin and oboe, BWV 1060. Hall’s violin...