Performing Beethoven

One of the most attractive features of studying at Cardiff is the richness and diversity of performance opportunities available to students, both on campus and within the city. 

In November, Cardiff University Symphony Chorus and Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra joined forces, under conductor Mark Eager, to perform Beethoven Symphony no.9 at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff. 

Assistant Chorus Manager Ben Gutsell, a 3rd year BMus student, tells us about the experience:

“As the Assistant Chorus Manager of the University Symphony Chorus, it has been a great experience to see the whole department, singers and instrumentalists alike, working together to perform such an iconic work as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, furthermore to do it in a matter of 9 weeks!

“It is always hard to put the fourth movement into context until the performance; you have to sit there and experience the first three movements as a whole to understand how it fits into place! I feel this is the case for other people too, and once you have heard it all you can’t help but give your all singing the Ode To Joy theme!

“Suddenly you realise quite how dramatic the contrasts should be, how much the text needs to be articulated and how each theme relates to the rest of the symphony! I feel like this clicked in the performance as the energy was tremendous and everyone gave 110% commitment!

“I think that we are very lucky to be able to perform such iconic works. I feel that this challenge has built a platform for us to go on and perform other exciting works and continue to build a strong relationship between the chorus and orchestra.

“It is an experience I will remember for a very long time and I certainly hope I get to perform it again in the future!​”