“A musician cannot move others unless he too is moved. He must of necessity feel all of the effects that he hopes to arouse in his audience, for the revealing of his own humour will stimulate a like humour in the listener.” – CPE Bach

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach would have been well pleased that his famous dictum was lived up to so completely when the 20 musicians of the Australian Haydn Ensemble put the seal on a momentous season under dynamic young guest conductor and harpsichordist Erin Helyard.

He would also have been delighted with the choice of programme – three of his works which led Mozart to declare him “the father of us all” and a Haydn symphony to round the afternoon off.

It has been a landmark year for the AHE with a fine CD debut for ABC Classics, a new chairman of the board and patron in former NSW Governor Dame Marie Bashir and their first concert in a sold out City Recital Hall.

But it was back to their home ground, the Utzon Room at Sydney Opera House, for the close of their sixth season since they were established in 2011 under artistic director Skye McIntosh.

Helyard, who is...