Camerata’s full string orchestra was augmented with their double wind, trumpets and a percussionist for this concert of familiar classics.

It gave us a full-sized chamber orchestra of 36 players, allowing the musicians to play works that are normally the domain of larger symphony orchestras. Without a conductor, the chosen works also showed what it is possible to achieve with a group of talented and committed musicians, managed with considerable skill by their Artistic Director Brendan Joyce, leading and conducting from the violin.

Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra: Viva Violin. Photo © Michael Marston

Rossini’s The Barber of Seville overture is one of the best loved and most popular operatic overtures in the repertoire. A joyous, light-hearted romp that rhythmically illustrates some of the famous musical scenes and characters from the opera, it was played by the Camerata musicians with much exuberance and humour.

The orchestra started briskly with the instantly recognisable tune that introduced both pizzicato strings and oft-repeated sustained notes from clarinet, bassoon and horn. The woodwind played this overture splendidly, with great attention to detail and delivering a fiery, rhythmic pace. In the speedy second section, the violins and...