As the VSO’s charismatic concertmaster, Aussie violinist Dale Barltrop displayed his musicianship almost weekly. Since returning to the Southern Hemisphere, he’s been with the Australian String Quartet, and now he’s coming back. First up, the foursome will kick off Music on Main’s season. Then it will perform John Adams’s Absolute Jest with the VSO. After that? ASQ joins the VSO on a bill with piano virtuoso Lang Lang. If you’re not a total drongo, you’ll catch at least one. 

The Australian String Quartet plays at Music on Main at the Orpheum Annex on Tuesday (September 19); September 22 and 23 with the VSO at the Orpheum; and with the VSO and Lang Lang on September 25.