In the first half of this program, Artistic Director Sophie Rowell pairs Rameau’s Suite from Six Concerts en Sextuor with CPE Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto, the latter arranged and performed by the gifted classical accordionist James Crabb.

The orchestra plays the Suite with verve and grace, bringing to life Rameau’s musical sketches, including, most notably, a sentimental Cupid and a fast-pecking chook.

Crabb’s decision to arrange CPE Bach’s harpsichord concerto for the accordion is inspired. In Crabb’s hands, the solos have remarkable clarity and fluency, though in quieter moments the accordion folds almost imperceptibly into the ensemble.

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and James Crabb: Under the Canopy. Photo © Lucien Fischer

First Nations composer Aaron Wyatt bases Under the Canopy on the temperate rainforests around his Melbourne home, and the Recital Centre’s timber-lined Hall proves the ideal setting for an MCO-commissioned premiere evoking a state of calm but colourful harmony.

Delicate, wispy trills flutter spasmodically over deep, slow-moving melodies, while a gentle rhythmic pulse causes the music to inhale and exhale like a giant, placid creature in repose. Wyatt’s atmospheric soundscape is a welcome addition...