Orchestra freed from shackles of their music stands and scores

ROYAL CONCERT HALL

- By WILLIAM RUFF

IT'S a very crowded marketplace out there in the world of classical music. This is good news for concertgoers: so many fine orchestras to choose from, led by a seemingly endless supply of dynamic conductors eager to share their insights with players and audiences.

There is no room for also-rans these days but it's not easy for an orchestra to find a niche in the market that others haven't already occupied.

Aurora Orchestra, however, have found a USP which makes even a mention of their name enough to quicken the pulses of music-lovers. And that's because they play large-scale works from memory. And sometimes they go even further, mixing music and drama to probe deep inside what they play and its historical context.