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Friday 14 Jul 2023

‘Beethoven on the Bridge’ returns to Reading station to serenade passengers for the first time since the pandemic

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

This Saturday (15 July) passengers at Reading station will be treated to fabulous live music courtesy of the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), who’ll be performing Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 alongside three famous marches as part of ‘Beethoven on the Bridge’, which sees APO return to the station’s transfer deck for the first time since the pandemic.

The orchestra have regaled Reading’s passengers before, in 2017 and 2019, and like those performances, this year’s event will be free to attend. The event, which takes place from 2:30pm, is an informal staging without seats, so the audience will be free to come and go as they wish. Listeners are invited to have a go at conducting the musicians as part of the ‘conducting relay’ and are encouraged to make a donation to support APO’s educational work and commissioning of new pieces.

Bernadette Sasche, Network Rail’s station manager for Reading, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome APO back to the station for ‘Beethoven on the Bridge’.

“As in previous years, the performance will take place on our transfer deck, which is fully accessible and close to toilet facilities and other amenities.

“The live station noise and atmosphere really do make this event special. We hope everyone enjoys the show and helps the musicians feel right at home!”

The orchestra’s music director, Andrew Taylor, who works in GWR’s operations team, said: “Our previous events at the station have been such fun and so important for bringing this fantastic music out of the concert hall and to a wider audience, in an informal environment.

“I’m so grateful to my railway colleagues for helping us make the event happen.”