Japanese conductor Nodoka Okisawa made an impressive debut with the TSO; the opening work was Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D, Op. 25 ‘Classical’. With airy, translucent textures and lifted rhythms, the conductor brought all the wit and style that this charming symphony demands.

Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 incorporates a range of moods within its taut one-movement structure. It is beautifully, if demandingly, conceived for the solo cello, with the orchestration also varied and colourful.

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Photo supplied

TSO Principal Cello Jonathan Békés brought great virtuosity and warmth, along with a wide dynamic range that incorporated some superbly delicate and withdrawn moments along with robust fullness of tone in the dramatic passages.

The orchestral support provided a model of precision and vigour. An enthusiastic audience response was rewarded with an encore – J.S Bach’s Gigue (VI) from the Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008.

The second half of the program began with contemporary Japanese composer (born 1953) Takashi Yoshimatsu’s And Birds are Still …, Op. 72 for strings. Inspired by the image of birds gathered around a dead companion, the style...