With a world in even more turmoil than usual, many of us are taking comfort in old friends, binge TV and good music. And there’s no one better to restore some positivity, joy and perspective to our lives than W.A. Mozart, especially when his work is in the hands of Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

You could feel the packed Opera House audience’s mood lifting in this latest tour featuring three symphonies and, as a bonus track, excerpts from the Ballet Music from Idomeneo. The opening chords of the Haffner Symphony’s spirited first movement signalled what we could expect for the next two hours – beautifully judged tempos, thrilling crescendos and glorious playing from an orchestra swelled to 40 musicians by the addition of students from the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne as well as a cast of freelances and guest musicians.

There were some familiar faces in among the new – notably former ACO regular violist Nicole Divall making a welcome reappearance – as well as one absentee in violinist Mark Ingwersen, who is leaving the orchestra after 32 years.