It was an entertaining, vibrant night at the ABC Classic live-streamed Symphonic Dances concert, as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra launched its 2027 season.

An interesting pre-concert panel discussion between ABC Classic’s Ed Le Brocq, QSO Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici and Director of Artistic Planning Matthew Wood laid out the QSO’s upcoming 80th year. It is a program of anniversaries, featuring a live-to-screen concert of the iconic Star Wars: A New Hope, marking its 50th anniversary; all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies, 200 years after his death; and music from composer John Adams, who is also celebrating his 80th birthday.

The packed program also features an epic 80th Anniversary Gala concert opening with Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture as a nod to their first concert in 1947.

Umbert Clerici and musicians of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Sam Muller Media

The musicians and Clerici were on top form, bursting into life with Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances. With a flamboyant sweep of the baton reminiscent of Bugs Bunny’s famous Baton Bunny scene, Clerici opened the dramatic Bohemian dance. His shoulders wiggled and hips bounced to the vibrant polka, slowed by a lovely brass interlude, before pouncing at the strings for the final cheery jig.

His entertaining conducting style went into full throttle with Holly Harrison’s Insideout, a high-octane concerto composed for the sensational Scottish classical accordionist James Crabb, returning after his warm reception at the QSO’s Italia Gala concert in May.

Harrison visualises the three movements gradually emerging from within the accordion, with it as the heart and lungs of the orchestra, citing Lewis Carroll’s Alice as an influence.

A terrifying crash from the busy percussionists and Jimi Hendrix’s E7♯9 chord from Purple Haze launched the orchestra down the rabbit hole on a runaway train journey in the first movement, Stretch. Crabb’s fingers flew over the keys of his accordion as if channelling Art Van Damme, the bellows puffing like a steam train. The rusty-wheeled strings screeched along the track as train driver Clerici masterfully wiggled his caboose and baton, in full control of the mayhem.

James Crabb and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Sam Muller Media

There were the jazzy influences of Gershwin and Bernstein, with a classy Bond Big Band sound. After a calmer second movement, Squeeze, Gungy and Glitzy roared back to a racing train for a percussionist’s delight of booming timpani, crashing cymbals and even a wailing swannee whistle. A solo from Crabb had him competing with Clerici for attention, making strained faces as he dragged the bellows to tease out every last gasp.

The QSO’s interpretation of Rachmaninov’s enigmatic Symphonic Dances was vibrant, but seemed almost prosaic after such a stunning first half. Clerici and Crabb’s synergetic showmanship elevated the classical concert to dramatic theatre, and Clerici will be sorely missed after 2027, his fifth and final year with the QSO.

It was also double bass player Ken Poggioli’s last concert after 41 years with the QSO, a musician whose passion for the bass has been infectious among his peers.

The full concert with presenter Ed Le Brocq is available on ABC listen.