Page 35 - FINAL_Aurora Orchestra_Inside Beethoven Coverage Book

9 November 2021

Playing & Teaching
By heart, with heart: memorising an entire

symphony

Aurora Orchestra have become renowned for presenting entire symphonies by memory since
2014. Principal double bass Benjamin Griffiths shares his experiences and unexpected joys of
memorising entire symphonic works

Principal double bass of Aurora Orchestra Benjamin Griffiths

Seven years ago Aurora walked onto an unusually empty stage in the Royal Albert Hall and
played Mozart 40 without any sheet music. I will never forget the feeling of vulnerability and
nakedness in that moment, seeing the vast audience without a single music stand, item of furniture
or piece of music between us and them as protection. It was a pivotal moment in Aurora’s story,
and the reaction from the audience convinced us: we had created something quite special, and that
this was a worthwhile endeavour. Since then we’ve done ten symphonies and well over 100
performances in this way.