Geneva, (ONA) - The French-speaking Orchestra of Switzerland managed to record Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, with the participation of more than one hundred musicians and singers, while respecting the rules of physical distancing imposed by precautionary conditions in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

This landmark piece of classical music was recorded on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the birth of its German author, Ludwig van Beethoven.

The musicians and singers spread in the famous “Lobby of Victoria” in Geneva. They took their positions so that each one separated from the other with a safe distance. The participants were distributed in all corners of the hall, starting from the stage and ending with the floor of the place, through the galleries and balconies.

The British Jonathan Knott, the music director of the French-speaking Swiss Orchestra, took over the leadership of the 53 musicians and the 58 members of the Grand Theater Choir in Geneva from a circular platform placed in the middle of the hall. Just above him, a huge circular screen was installed that can be seen from a 360-degree angle so that each group or soloist or member of the choir can see the leader whatever his position in the hall.

As for soloists and singers, they performed their roles from balconies.

(ONA)