Thaindian News

London, Mar 24 (ANI): British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for once had a deathly audience, reason being they were performing for plants, with the sole purpose of helping science prove a theory.

The 33-member orchestra played a three-hour recital to an auditorium packed with greenery to help test the theory that plants grow better when played classical music.

The unorthodox audience was made up of over 100 different varieties of plants and bulbs including geraniums, fuchsias and perennials.

Scientists have claimed that classical music - and the reverberation of sound waves - is thought to stimulate protein production in plants.

In theory, this is thought to lead to increased plant growth, although experts have long been divided on the subject.

Researchers have previously exposed rice plants to classical music and noted that some samples responded to noise levels with increased gene activity.

The recital at Cadogan Hall, London, was commissioned by shopping channel QVC and included Mozart’s famed Symphony Number 40.

An album based on the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performance has also been released to inspire budding bulbs and pushy plants to grow more.

“We’ve played some unusual recitals before but this has to be one of the strangest,” the Daily Mail quoted Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conductor, Benjamin Pope, as saying.

“The audience was the most fragrant we have ever played to although it was slightly unnerving to see row upon row of bowed heads instead of applauding human beings,” he stated.

The 45-minute recording titled ‘The Flora Seasons: Music To Grow To’ is available to download for free from the QVC website.

“There is a big debate on whether music can actually stimulate better plant growth but hopefully the release of our classical soundtrack will encourage gardeners to put the theory to the test,” QVC gardening presenter, Richard Jackson, added. (ANI)