Demolition Derby Symphony Orchestra

Car doors, violin bows, burning tyres and a mangled euphonium fly over the crowd in the DDSO's premier concert of the year at the Rimsky-Carsakov Speedway.

"Start your engines... START. YOUR. BATON!" The music and the demolition begins, the orchestral players each in their own car with chauffeur, their instruments amplified just enough to be heard over the roaring engines. All repertoire is considered, including opera - one of the finest sights at a DDSO concert is a hysteric, unamplified opera singer.

One player's car goes kaput - they must cease playing. And another, and another... until all that's left is a single viola in a 3-wheeled hatchback, hobbling along all the way to the end of Mahler 3. Whose idea was that one, guys?!?!!

The DDSO also perform the other way. Here the players drive themselves and no-one plays at the start. Only when their car is kaput do they pick up their instrument and begin to play their part. A projection on the player's helmet visor (specially adapted for wind players) shows the conductor and bar number, letting them know where to join in when their car gives up.

Finally, when the last car has died, the sound of a full orchestra playing Nessun Dorma or the Blue Danube Waltz emerges from the smoking aftermath.