It comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that Satu Vanska, principal violinist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, is a fan of a grindcore punk act with an unprintable name. But then again, taking into account the orchestra’s cutting-edge oeuvre, it shouldn’t be that much of a shock.

After all, under the leadership of artistic director Richard Tognetti since 1989, the orchestra has staged performances such as Mountain and River that incorporate multimedia elements, Total Immersion events where the audience can sit, stand and walk among the musicians, and the ACO Underground series, which blends classical music with rock and electronica.