Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY & CONCERTO CYCLE III
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
Thursday, 7.30pm
Tickets: 01865 980980 or www.oxfordphil.com
Oxford Philharmonic’s exploration of Beethoven’s symphonies and concertos continues with the contrasting pairing of the Symphony No.7 in A major Op.92 and the Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor Op.37. The dark, brooding nature of the piano concerto, composed in 1800 and premiered three years later, reflects Beethoven’s mood at a time when he was in poor health and his hearing was deteriorating. A decade later, relaxing in the spa town of Teplice, he produced the joyful seventh symphony, notable for its dance-like rhythms. With pianist/conductor Marios Papadopoulos.
Witney Music Society
MARK TAYLOR (FLUTE) & GABRIELLA JONES (HARP)
High Street Methodist Church, Witney
Friday, 7.30pm
Tickets: www.witneymusicsociety.org.uk
Prize-winning duo Mark Taylor and Gabriella Jones have been performing together since their student days at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, back in 2013, and have since toured extensively with repertoire that pushes the boundaries of their instruments. Their concert in Witney features an eclectic selection of pieces including Piazzola Histoire du Tango, Bartok Romanian Folk Dances, Scarlatti Sonata in A Major and more.
Orchestra of St John’s
VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Friday, 7.30pm
Tickets: www.osj.org.uk
Join soprano Hannah Davey, pianist Derek Paravicini and the OSJ Ashmolean Voices for an evening of romantic songs among the ancient Greek and Roman statues at the Ashmolean Museum. This varied selection includes English madrigals, folk songs, jazz and songs from the shows, including Fair Phyllis, Bobby Shafto, Danny Boy, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I Got Rhythm and many more. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now!
JDP Concert Series
VILLIERS QUARTET
JDP Music Building
Saturday, 7.30pm
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com
The JDP’s ensemble-in-residence, the Villiers Quartet, returns with two pieces by Purcell, Fantasias and Chacony (arr. Britten), both of which inspired the other half of the programme: Britten’s String Quartet No.2, which he wrote in 1945 to mark the 250th anniversary of Purcell’s death, and Fantazia by Robert Saxton, one of Britten’s students and currently Professor of Composition and Tutor in Music at Worcester College. With James Dickenson (violin), Tamaki Higashi (violin), Carmen Flores (viola) and Nick Stringfellow (cello).
Oxford Coffee Concerts
TIM HORTON, PIANO
Holywell Music Room
Sunday, 11.15am
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com
Pianist Tim Horton – a founder member of the Leonore Piano Trio – makes a welcome return to Oxford to perform four Chopin Ballades and, in a nod to Beethoven’s anniversary year, the Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor Op.90, written in the summer of 1814 and dedicated to Beethoven’s friend and benefactor Prince Moritz von Lichnowsky. Pre-concert coffee is available from The Vaults and Garden Café and The King’s Arms.
Oxford Chamber Music Society
ATÉA QUINTET: FROM BACH TO NIELSEN
Holywell Music Room
Sunday, 3pm
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com
A leading UK wind ensemble, the Atéa Quintet has achieved international acclaim since forming in 2009 and was a double prize winner at the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music competition in Denmark in 2015. This lively and eclectic programme includes Zemlinksy Humoresque, Bozza Divertimento, Tuur Arkitektoniks, Briccialdi Quintet in B flat, selections from Bach Goldberg Variations and Nielsen Wind Quintet. With Alena Walentin (flute), Anna Hashimoto (clarinet), Ashley Myall (bassoon), Chris Beagles (horn) and Philip Haworth (oboe).
Opera Up Close
PUCCINI: MADAM BUTTERFLY
Oxford Playhouse
Monday, 7.30pm
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.oxfordplayhouse.com
In a typically bold re-imagining from this award-winning company, Puccini’s classic tragedy is transported to 1980s Japan, at a time when traditional culture was colliding with the new digital age. The opera features a new libretto by Poppy Burton-Morgan, who also directs, a cast of eight singers and a new orchestration for keyboard, shakuhachi, flute, cello and viola.
NICOLA LISLE
