AURORA ORCHESTA PRESENTS BEETHOVEN PLUGGED AND UNPLUGGED AT PRINTWORKS AND SOUTHBANK CENTRE.

Aurora Orchestra will illuminate this March, one of classical music’s most recognisable works – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 – presenting it in two radically contrasting ways, conceived for two of London’s best-known venues – Printworks London and the Southbank Centre. Each event features a new music commission from one of the UK’s most exciting young composers.

Following its sold-out Printworks debut in 2021, Aurora Orchesta will return to the venue on Thursday 23 March 2023 for two immersive site-specific performances from memory (6pm & 9pm). In partnership with iconic electronic music venue Printworks and Southbank Centre, the shows are co-curated by multi-disciplinary artist Nwando Ebizie, who has created new music to frame the movements of the symphony.

With the orchestra ‘exploded’ across the space, listeners will be able to experience the music from inside, getting up close to instrumentalists as they perform in ways that would be impossible in a concert hall.

Also exploded in time, movements of the symphony will be interspersed with sound and light installations, enabling audience members to uncover the secrets of the building and choose their own path through this great work.

For experienced concertgoers and classical newcomers alike, this event will offer a completely fresh and revelatory take on Beethoven’s music.

Later the same week, Aurora Orchesta will present Beethoven 5 again, this time at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. The programme also includes Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 in G major with stellar Polish Canadian soloist Jan Lisiecki, and a new piece from Héloïse Werner.

Nicholas Collon, Principal Conductor of Aurora Orchestra, says:

‘The legend goes that at the 1808 premiere in Vienna of Beethoven’s 5th symphony, Napoleonic army veterans rose to their feet on hearing the triumphant march at the beginning of the Finale, and shouted ‘Vive L’Empereur.’

We also relish playing this piece on our feet, without the barrier of music stands between the players; allowing us to revel in the physicality of this most dynamic of symphonies’.

Inside Beethoven: Printworks London takes place on Thursday 23 March at 6pm & 9pm with tickets costing £29.50. For more information and to book tickets