We’ve teamed up with Christina Birt Projects and Company of Angels to deliver a series of reviews as part of the Creative Critics series. School children aged 8-11 respond to a series of shows. These reviews are from Beethoven 5 by Aurora Orchestra as part of the Bury Festival written by pupils from the Woolpit Primary School.

Review by Oliver, aged 10

All of Beethoven’s music and symphonies are a piece of art in themselves. If you decide you want a bit more then maybe consider listening to this orchestra who not only play Beethoven’s fifth symphony but play it completely from memory!!! This is a great piece of music that should be listened to as if it’s your first time. The Apex setting made me feel very close to the music.

Beethoven’s fifth symphony is mainly aimed at adults but children can find it enjoyable too. The instruments include flutes, trumpets, violins, trombones and lots more. There are roughly 40 orchestra members who have different roles in playing the music. This includes: 14 people on violins, 2 people playing the trumpets and 2 on the trombone. They wear smart, black uniforms that make it seem more organised when you are watching the orchestra play their instruments.

The parts where Tom (presenter) spoke were interesting but I couldn’t always understand what he was talking about. Also overall the concert was quite long so an interval might have been nice but it was still a marvellous musical show. You could tell that the music told a story with the different instruments and the times that they played. The music was very exact but maybe it could have been made more dramatic with lighting to match the mood of Beethoven’s musical marvel.

One of the most enjoyable moments of the evening was when the conductor (Nicholas Collon) said that the orchestra was going to become one with the audience. It made you feel excited as they played the last part of the symphony all around you and you could hear instruments at all angles. It made you feel quite special to have that privilege.

The Aroura Orchestra performed a piece of legendary music from memory which was very extraordinary and it is a must see for all Beethoven fans and people who like music and orchestras.

 

Review by Ruby W. age 10

On Friday 27 May, Aurora Orchestra came to Bury St Edmunds to perform at the Apex. They performed Beethoven symphony no. 5 in c minor from memory which is very hard.

The performance is aimed at adults but children could enjoy it as well. The performance is just music but still very enjoyable. The show is showing how good Beethoven was at writing music and playing music. The audience was mainly adults with fewer children. At the end of the show it is immersive and the musicians come in to the audience to show how loud it is for the conductor.

I really liked it and I think it is amazing how they can remember all those notes. And I liked how they were all wearing black and they all matched. The music varied to happy then sad quite quickly.

My favourite instruments were the violin and the trumpet. I loved how the musicians moved their hands so quickly on the Violin. And I liked how the Trumpet looked when you play it. My favourite musicians were Thomas Gould who plays the violin and Maria Spengler who also plays the violin.

The Conductor was Nicholas Collon and I liked the way he moved up and down to show the musicians what speed and how fast or slow to go. The presenter was Tom Service and he spoke about Beethoven in between songs. I didn’t really understand what he was saying and I found it a bit boring, but overall it was a really fun and good show.