Apex Festival is the ensemble’s new modus operandi, and its first year as a “fully professional ensemble”, as Sam Weller told Limelight in September.

The plan henceforth, to aid in balancing the schedules of its members venturing deeper into the musical world (not least of all Weller, now with a host of engagements in the Netherlands and across Europe), is for this festival to be an annual October occurrence.

The wonderful energy and friendly hubbub of Sydney’s Lower Town Hall before the performance is one reason why this is an exciting prospect for the Sydney music scene. Another is the programming, which expands into an area other Sydney-based orchestras don’t ever quite come close to touching – one ’70s work, one ’80s work, two modern gems; two of which are Australian premieres.

Ensemble Apex. Photo © GabrielleMary Photography

John Adams’ Doctor Atomic Symphony was a strong, if occasionally winding, starter. There was  a few shaky moments in here as the ensemble found its legs, playing together a larger-scale iteration for the first time in more than a year – a...