Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
LISA BATIASHVILI, VIOLIN
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
Friday, 7.30pm
Tickets: 01865 980980 or www.oxfordphil.com
Glamorous German violin virtuoso Lisa Batiashvili makes her Oxford Philharmonic debut in this treat-filled concert, playing the Violin Concerto by Vienna-born composer Alban Berg. He was inspired to write this tender piece after the death of Manon Gropius, the 18-year-old daughter of Gustav Mahler’s widow, Alma, and her second husband, Walter. The piece was dedicated to “the memory of an angel”. Completing the programme are Schubert’s Symphony No.8 in B minor, D759, the famous ‘Unfinished’, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op.98.
Fiori Musicali
NEW YEAR CONCERT
The Great Barn, Aynho
Friday, 7.30pm
Tickets: www.fiori-musicali.com
Banish the post-Christmas blues with this wonderful New Year concert of baroque delights, including Haydn’s Symphony No.104 in D major, the ‘London’. There is an optional pre-concert supper. With Eva Caballero (flute), Kerstin Linder-Dewan (violin), Penelope Rapson (harpsichord) and the Fiori Musicali Chamber Ensemble.
Jonathan Powell, Piano
PROKOFIEV & JANACEK
JDP Music Building
Saturday, 7.30pm
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com
In this contrasting programme, Jonathan Powell explores Janáĉek’s melancholy piano cycles On An Overgrown Path and In the Mists, both written during the first twelve years of the 20th century, and Prokofiev’s Sonatas Nos. 5 and 6, the former inspired by his time in France in the 1920s and the latter written in 1940 in response to the outbreak of the war.
THE FOUR SEASONS
St Mary-le-More, Wallingford
Saturday, 7.30pm
Tickets: www.anitapiano.com/wrw2020
This lovely Wallingford-based chamber music series returns for a third season, starting with this themed concert featuring Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Frank Bridge’s Four Miniatures for Piano Trio and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor, Op.49. With Peter Davis (violin), Bryony Moody (cello) and pianist Anita D’Attellis, who founded the series. All proceeds go to the St Mary’s Church Organ Appeal and Sue Ryder.
City of Oxford Orchestra
VIENNESE NEW YEAR CONCERT
Sheldonian Theatre
Saturday, 8pm
Tickets: 01865 744457
Another post-Christmas blues buster, the COO’s joyous traditional New Year concert – now in its 47th year – features Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro overture, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Suppé’s Morning, Noon and Night in Viennaoverture, Lehár’s Gold and Silver Waltz and a thrilling mix of Strauss waltzes, polkas and marches as well as his Die Fledermaus overture. Featuring pianist Tom Poster and conductor Stephen Bell.
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
INTIMATE LETTERS
TS Eliot Theatre, Merton College
Sunday, 3pm
Tickets: 01865 980980 or www.oxfordphil.com
Join the Oxford Philharmonic for this lovely concert, in the appropriately intimate setting of Merton College’s TS Eliot Theatre. Rising star Alexander Ullman, an alumnus of the Oxford Piano Festival, is the soloist for Dvorak’s haunting Piano Trio No.3 in F minor, Op.65, which is followed by Arvo Pärt’s Fratres and Janáĉek’s most famous string quartet, the passionate Intimate Letters. With Natalia Lomeiko (violin), Yuri Zhislin (violin), Jon Thorne (viola) and Mats Liström.
