Believe the hype: great orchestra without equal MUSIC Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons. Perth Concert Hall. November 21-22 AMSTERDAM'S Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra arrives in Australia with a reputation as the world's greatest orchestra. For those of us prone to scepticism that such claims owe more to marketing than critique, the celebrated ensemble's two performances in the Perth Concert Hall showed why it is consistently rated at the very top of the orchestral pantheon. This visit is part of a six-continent world tour celebrating the orchestra's 125th anniversary. During that period there have been only six chief conductors, with Latvian maestro Mariss Jansons in the job since 2004. Jansons and the Concertgebouw seem to be the consummate match; his subtle coaxing, instinctive musicianship and acute attention to detail elicits finely honed and beautifully crafted playing. Stravinsky's Firebird received one of the finest orchestral performances I have ever heard, breathtaking in its finesse and expressive impact. The glossy, highly refined string sound never lost its warmth, even in the strongest climaxes, while the brass showed an impressive array of colours from a rich, mellow tone to full-throated roar. Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony was shaped with a sense of spaciousness and an impeccably crafted line. The richly sonorous strings were complemented by strongly characterised wind solos and finely blended brass playing. In the context of such exhilarating music making, the performance of Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto failed to take flight to the same degree. Veteran pianist Yefim Bronfman seemed rather disengaged on Friday night, giving an under-energised account of the piano part. Richard Strauss's symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben was dedicated to this orchestra by the composer in 1897 and they certainly played it as if they owned it. Concertmaster Liviu Prunaru gave a stunning account of the extended violin solo and the orchestra extracted the full emotional impact from this powerful score. Jansons again allowed the music to unfold with a sense of unhurried elegance, never driving the orchestra but pacing each transition with the expert judgment of a great master. Believe the hype. Also: QPAC, Brisbane, today; Melbourne Arts Centre, tomorrow and Wednesday; Sydney Opera House, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.