Oxford Symphony Orchestra

1) Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Sheldonian. Thursday March 10. Marios Papadopoulos conducts, after Russell Hirshfield joins him for Scriabin’s delectable Piano Concerto – a blend of classical order, romantic rhapsody and the Russian composer’s own brand of mystical inflammation. The Orchestra is joined by some of Oxford’s most talented young musicians including Conducting Fellow Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey for a performance of Glinka’s ever-popular Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla. https://oxfordphil.com/event/tchaikovskys-fifth/

Marios Papadopoulos © Chris Gloag

2) Oxford Symphony Orchestra, Goldmark & Mahler, Sat March 12th, 7.30pm. Oxford Town Hall – Goldmark’s Violin Concerto is an appealing work filled with lyrical melodies, and a virtuoso dance-like finale. Mahler’s 6th Symphony, presciently depicts Mahler’s future adversity. Starring Freya Goldmark on violin and Robert Max conducting. Accompanied under 16s FREE. Book here: https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/goldmark-and-mahler

Robert Max – Oxford Symphony Orchestra conductor. Photo: Kevin Leighton

3) OSJ. Classic Mozart, 7pm at Dorchester Abbey. March 2. Enjoy his Ave Verum – Mozart’s last work, written as he drew his final breaths, and perhaps his most loving and human. Simple and humble; Mozart called it sotto voce (subdued). Plus Eine Kleine Nacht Musik and Mozart’s Requiem with Miriam Allan – soprano, Samantha Oxborough – mezzo, George Curnow- tenor, Daniel Barrett – bass and OSJ Oxford Voices and John Lubbock conducting.

4) Oxford Lieder’s Spring Song, Holywell Music Room and Trinity College from 17-20 March. Includes a new series: Forgotten Voices: Women Composers in Song. Led by Natasha Loges, celebrate and explore songs by four composers: Hedwige Chrétien, Margarete Schweikert, Elizabeth Maconchy and Johanna Müller-Hermann. Singers include the Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy, who will be making her Oxford debut on 18 March with Sholto Kynoch.

World-renowned tenor James Gilchrist is joined by rising star pianist-composer Eric McElroy on March 19 in a special lunchtime concert that features the world premiere of Eric McElroy’s setting of the Oxford Professor of Poetry Alice Oswald, ‘A Short Story of Falling’, commissioned by Oxford Lieder in 2021 and postponed due to illness. And don’t miss Mary Bevan performing her debut solo ‘Voyages’ on March 19, joined by masterful pianist Anna Tilbrook. They will perform songs by Duparc, Fauré, Debussy, Chabrier and more, pairing each song with another by a relevant female composer, including the Boulanger sisters, Amy Beach and Cécile Chaminade. Info at https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/event/1401

5) Oxford Harmonic Choir, 26 March 2022, 7.30 pm, Oxford Town Hall. Sir Andrew Davis’ arrangement of Handel’s Messiah – a colourfully re-orchestrated new concert edition with Susan Young – soprano, Olivia Ray – mezzo, Ronald Samm – tenor and Trevor Eliot Bowes – bass. http://oxfordharmonicchoir.org/concerts/

6) Witney Music Society, High Street Methodist Church, Witney at 7.30pm on Friday 11 March.  For the final concert in its 2021-22 season, welcome the Kosmos Ensemble (violin, viola and accordion). These acclaimed musicians have crafted a unique programme inspired by music from around the globe and referencing classical composers, including tango, and Gypsy, Balkan and Far East music. Go to: www.witneymusicsociety.org.uk

Kosmos

7) Iffley Music Society, Sunday 13 March 3pm, Church Hall, Iffley Village OX4 4EJ. Baritone Theo Platt and pianist Keval Shah bring you Ravel’s Histoires Naturelles, Barber’s Hermit Songs and Schubert, Wolf. Book at www.iffleymusicsociety.org.uk

Theo Platt and pianist Keval Shah

8) St Cross College’s Around The World In 12 Folk Tunes, Thursday March 31 at 7pm. Acclaimed accordion duo Aine Mcloughlin and Ilona Suomalainen will perform an hour of well-known and popular folk tunes from around the world and across the continents. Aine has performed with numerous orchestras. Ilona has played across the UK, working with orchestras including the Philharmonia, Aurora Orchestra, Opera Holland Park, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera. To attend the free performance, please register at: https://www.stx.ox.ac.uk/event/st-cross-around-the-world-in-12-folk-tunes

Ilona Suomalainen

9) Oxford Sinfonia, March 26 in St Mary’s University Church. James Ham conducts Rameau’s Overture to Les Indes Galantes, Debussy’s Petite Suite, Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin and Beethoven’s Symphony No 1. Accompanied children are free.  https://www.oxfordsinfonia.co.uk

James Ham

10) Chipping Norton Music Festival. 110th Festival: 4th – 19th March 2022. An impressive line-up features some wonderful contrasts from the likes of local, all-male a capella group Out Of The Blue from Oxford University to the acclaimed and multi talented Adderbury Ensemble with Viv Mclean performing Beethoven and Mendelssohn, or renowned jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth performing with Charlie Wood on Sunday 13 March. Plus classes and children’s workshops. Go to https://www.cnmf.org.uk/concerts for all the details.

Jacqui Dankworth with Charlie Wood

11) SJE Arts International Piano Series continues throughout March, bringing interesting and talented pianists to its Oxford audience. Now in its ninth year, don’t miss Sunday 13 March, London Firebird Orchestra, Marc Corbett-Weaver, piano, Thursday 17 March Angela Hewitt or Sunday 27 March Vadym Kholodenko. https://www.sje-oxford.org/7th-sje-arts-international-piano-series.html

12) Grand Siècle – Rameau’s Pygmalion, March 18-19, Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon Abbey Buildings. in a thrilling operatic triple bill alongside never before staged works by female composers of the French Baroque, Julie Pinel’s Pastoralle Iphis et Daphné and Elizabeth Jaquet de la Guerre’s Raccommodement Comique de Pierrot et de Nicole. Book here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pygmalion-iphis-et-daphne-pierrot-et-nicole-tickets-237448594137?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

Grand Siècle