According to Brendan Joyce, Camerata’s Artistic Director, the program’s first half was designed to prepare the audience for the song cycle Ngapa William Cooper, sung in English and the Yorta Yorta language. First cab off the rank was Max Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight for which Camerata floated serene chordal phrases which were shared across the ensemble, and the beautiful sound opened out organically to maximum effect.

Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Lior and Dr Lou Bennett. Photo © Alex Jamieson

Next item was A Selection of Songs, the first three included Nature Boy and Daniel which were fine vehicles for singer-songwriter Lior’s rich tone, impressively targeted falsetto and airy vocal lightness.

Camerata’s finely nuanced playing in Daniel demonstrated the rapport between soloist and ensemble and, the frisson between the offbeat plucked string accompaniment and Lior’s smooth, velvety lyricism hit the spot.

Dja Dja Wurrung Dr Lou Bennett’s performance of Dirtsong revealed her voice’s bluesy reach, vast range, rhythmic edge and diverse use of colour. Resting Among the Treetops was angry and soulful and told the tale of a cherished first nations toddler, whose corpse was discovered in the hollow...