A whale of a performance at the Shedd

Musicians from the Chicago Sinfonnietta serenaded guests and beluga whales alike during a special performance Thursday at the Shedd Aquarium.

The aquarium hosted a string quartet to perform Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9″ and “Symphony No. 6″ in the Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium while the beluga whales swam behind the musicians in a blend of nature and classical music.

The performance was inspired by the Shedd’s newest beluga calf, Opus — whose name means “a composition of music.” Shedd staff members gave the baby beluga its name in honor of Opus’ father, Beethoven.

“Belugas have a natural connection to sound, so we were very curious to see what they would make of the musicians,” Megan Vens-Policky, an animal care supervisor with Shedd Aquarium, said in a statement.

“We are always thinking about creative ways to provide the belugas with enrichment — new sounds, sights and experiences that keep them active and add novelty to their day. This partnership was a fun opportunity to share something the belugas may have never seen or heard before.”

Before the aquarium opened to the public, two of the musicians entered the habitat and played for several of the adult belugas, and a cellist performed a few pieces specifically for Opus.

The musicians gave a second performance for guests when the doors to the aquarium opened.

“As an orchestra known for its innovative concerts and creative programming within the community, Chicago Sinfonietta is pleased to form a new collaboration with a historic landmark in our community, Shedd Aquarium,” said Wendy Lewis, interim chief executive of Chicago Sinfonietta. “Both Chicago organizations are committed to curating important and thoughtful ways to innovate, inspire and ignite interest in our world and to protect it for the future through artful communication. The opportunity to experience the amazing sounds of our orchestra while in the presence of the majestic beluga whale was unforgettable. “