Turner Sims Southampton is delighted to host a music marathon in aid of Comic Relief on Saturday.

Beethovathon is a romp through all nine of the great composer’s symphonies in a single day.

Five years after the mammoth Haydathon (all 104 Haydn symphonies in a single weekend), local conductors and University of Southampton alumni Craig Lawton and Paul Ingram return with Beethovathon.

A hand-picked orchestra and choir will perform Beethoven’s symphonies in the order they were composed across four concerts.

The event will run in tandem with Red Nose Day 2015, all to raise money for Comic Relief.

Craig Lawton said: “I'm very excited to be returning to conduct at Turner Sims and moreover that our latest project forms part of the concert hall’s 40th anniversary.

“We’ve set ourselves a target of £10,000 to donate to Comic Relief. It's an ambitious target, but then again nine epic symphonies in the day is ambitious, one could say almost laughable, but it’s for Comic Relief, so it’s only right!

“We're going to have a great bunch of crazy, committed musicians on the stage all day, we’re going to have loads of fun, make great music and raise lots of money for a worthwhile cause.”

Paul Ingram said: “I’m delighted to be back at the Turner Sims with Beethovathon.

“We had a tremendous time in 2009 whilst performing the 104 symphonies of Haydn. We think Beethoven’s nine symphonies will be even better, and look forward to raising as much cash as possible for Comic Relief.

“With concerts at 11am, 1.30pm, 3.15pm and 7.30pm, audiences are invited to choose their favourite symphonies, or – even better – experience the entire nine in one day!”

Full listings for Turner Sims’ spring season are available online at turnersims.co.uk.