They stand up while performing, leader Richard Tognetti co-composed the soundtrack for the blockbuster film Master And Commander and their recent repertoire has included Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

But fear not, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, which celebrated its 30th birthday this year, could never be accused of dumbing down.

"The fact we stand up happens to be the way musicians performed in the 18th Century," explains Richard. "It gives us a freedom, we breathe better."

Neither is the bold musical programming a cheap bid to get bums on seats. Instead, it reflects the beliefs that have been in evidence ever since Richard took charge of the orchestra back in 1989.

Aged just 23, highly energetic and charismatic, he wasn't ever likely to take the safe or conventional route and then, as now, he was sure enough of his opinions not to be afraid to ruffle a few feathers.

"Like any kid in the Seventies," he says, "I grew up listening to an enormous variety of music. My parents played a lot of classical music but I also heard music like Hendrix and Pink Floyd.

"So to me", he continues, "it wasn't a kind of music that was totally separate to the music I played. When you look at Pink Floyd, they have a classical music background and their music has an orchestral base. Now, it's not unique to merge both forms but then it seemed a little shocking.

They the older musicians resented me, of course."

While there's no Pink Floyd on the bill for this, their debut Brighton Festival show, the programme still incorporates unusual choices such as Arvo Prt and Takemitsu, whose Death And Resurrection was originally written for the film Black Rain.

These nestle in between more canonical names such as Bach, Bartok, Britten and Schubert the unifying theme being the redemption which ultimately results from the dark journey into human mortality.

Over the years, the ACO has worked with numerous internationally-renowned soloists, including Steven Isserlis, John Williams, and Christian Lindberg.

For this performance, they will be joined by an equally impressive name soprano Dawn Upshaw, who made her name with the multi-million selling recording of Gorecki's third symphony in the early Nineties.

A three-time Grammy Award winner, she has worked with everyone from the Kronos Quartet to Simon Rattle and performs regularly in some of the most prestigious venues around the world.

"All the music world... loves Dawn Upshaw," gushed the Los Angeles Times with not atypical enthusiasm. "And there is simply no reason not to succumb to her versatility, her ingenuity, her questing mind, her exquisite tone, her dazzling technique or - best of all - her emotional directness."

To see her performing with the ACO, themselves described by The Times as "a ticket to musical bliss...the best chamber orchestra on Earth", then, is a rare treat indeed.

And it offers a chance for Brightonians to catch some glimpse of what Tognetti calls the "ecstasy that comes with music".

Starts 8pm. Tickets £10-£28.50.

Supported by University of Sussex: Derek and Ellen Hunnisett