An excellent Beethoven 8 as Oxford Philomusica’s cycle continues

The music of Beethoven is close to the hearts of the Oxford Philomusica. A series of Beethoven concerts established the orchestra in Oxford 15 years ago, and they returned to the composer’s music to mark their 10th anniversary. Marking the midway point in the Philomusica’s current Beethoven Festival, this concert paired Beethoven’s two F major symphonies (numbers 6 and 8) alongside his Second Piano Concerto, in B flat – repertoire spanning a period of over two decades.

Read my full review at Bachtrack.

Oxford Coffee Concerts: Carducci String Quartet

The Carducci Quartet’s appearance in the Holywell Music Room marked the halfway point in the Oxford Coffee Concert’s Autumn series. This late-morning concert saw the ensemble pair two D major quartets, from 1781 and 1949. It was the latter which received the more convincing performance, with the quartet clearly more engaged with Shostakovich’s troubled utterance than Haydn’s lean textures.

Read my review at Bachtrack.

Sylvia Schwartz steps in to perform with the Oxford Philomusica

After Renée Fleming was forced to withdraw due to a family emergency, soprano Sylvia Schwartz stepped in to perform with the Oxford Philomusica on the way to the Vienna Staatsoper. At just two days’ notice, Korngold, Zandonai and Leoncavallo were traded for Puccini, Verdi and Lehár. Although the concert was a sell-out with a long waiting list, many had chosen to refund their tickets. For those who chose to attend, the concert offered an opportunity to see a rising star in a repertoire ranging from 1780–1933.

Read my review at Bachtrack.

Murail to Mahler: A concert of firsts from the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Oramo

Saturday saw the BBC Symphony Orchestra open their 2013/14 season with an evening of firsts. Not only was this Sakari Oramo’s first Barbican season concert as Chief Conductor, but the programme placed a première by leading “spectral” composer Tristan Murail alongside Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto and Mahler’s First Symphony.

See what I thought at Bachtrack.