Beetles meet Bach

The European Union Baroque Orchestra (EUBO), one of the world's leading early instrument groups, staged a lunchtime prom concert to launch a unique collaboration with the University Museum on Friday, 10 December (pictured left). Music for the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Volume 1, is the title of a CD produced by the orchestra to help the Museum both to increase awareness of its work and to generate new funds for the restoration and preservation of its priceless collections. Professor Keith Thomson, Director of the Museum, said: `This is a wonderful place for music and the concert presents another chance to forge links between science and the arts. On top of that, this is just a great group of musicians to work with'. Roy Goodman, Artistic Director of the EUBO, commented: `Over the years this orchestra has played in some pretty unusual places, but this is the first time we've ever played in a museum. We are both in the history business, especially in showing how important the past is to understanding the present.' The launch of the new CD is seen by both organisations as a significant initiative. Professor Thomson added: `In the current financial climate, we have to be creative in how we go about raising new funds, and this is a great way of increasing both income and public awareness.' Copies of the CD can be obtained from the Museum Shop, the Oxford University Shop, the Sheldonian, and the Ashmolean.