Page 19 - Coverage Book_Aurora Orchestra Autumn 2020

But Aurora Orchestra’s Kings Cross performance of Beethoven’s seventh symphony
is a prelude to another unusual concert, playing a near empty Royal Albert Hall at
the 2020 BBC Proms.

Once again they will play Beethoven from memory - with the inclusion of a new
commission by Richard Ayres, which reflects upon his own hearing loss.

“It will certainly sound different acoustically without the usual 7,000 people,” says
Collon.

The Aurora Orchestra play Kings Place, where they have a residency. Picture: Simon Weir

“I don’t know what it will feel like because I have never done it - depressing and
uplifting at the same time probably. No applause at the end will be odd, but the
Proms are a talisman and it’s great for the country that they have put together two
weeks of wonderful live music every night. I was almost in tears when I watched the
first one.” He calls Beethoven’s seventh “the most infectious, enthusiastic of all the
symphonies, a rhythm fuelled romp from beginning to end. It’s great fun to play and
uplifting to listen to, which is what we all need.”

As for Ayre’s “exciting and beautiful” piece, it riffs on the fascinating speculation of
what Beethoven could and couldn’t hear and how it affected his work.

“It uses electronic samples of viola solos that come through the orchestra and are
distorted. A chunk is repeated as if Beethoven was listening on a gramophone and is