Three deeply spiritual works made for an eclectic celebration of Easter by Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Principal Guest Conductor Sir Donald Runnicles.

Billed rightly as a special event, the first half featured John Tavener’s extraordinary The Protecting Veil, performed here for the first time by the SSO, with British cellist Matthew Barley, who believes the 45-minute piece is “one of the greatest cello concertos”.

Sir Donald Runnicles conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Jay Patel

Tavener, who died in 2013, wrote it in 1989 for the BBC Proms. He had converted to Orthodox Christianity 12 years earlier and wanted to created “an icon in sound”, with the non-stop cello representing the Virgin Mary. It was premiered by Steven Isserlis and his recording of it became a best seller in the non-classical charts, along with the likes of Henryk Goreki’s Third Symphony and works by Arvo Pärt.

Like them it is music that slows the pulse, allows the mind to contemplate and restores a sense of peace and consolation in a troubled world.

“The work is universal, timeless, structurally perfect and emotionally powerful …” Barley says. “It also brings out the foremost...