Experience breathtaking music by some of classical music’s greatest composers, performed by some of the country’s finest classical musicians, all presented in stunning candlelight. At the heart of the concert is Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, the most recorded work in classical music and a defining showpiece for solo violin. Each concerto depicts a different season, shaped by accompanying poems – possibly written by Vivaldi himself. Across the four concertos, Vivaldi transforms the natural world into vivid musical scenes, evoking birdsong and buzzing flies, harvest celebrations, drunken revellers, barking dogs, summer storms and winter ice. Alongside this, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, composed on the eve of the First World War, offers a more reflective perspective. Inspired by George Meredith’s poem, it captures a pastoral world on the brink of change, its soaring violin line suggesting a lark gliding high above the mechanised world below, “lost on his aerial rings / In light, and then the fancy sings.” Opening the programme we have Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, an opera drawn from Beaumarchais’ recently banned comedy, in which a philandering count attempts to seduce his servant’s fiancée, only to be outmanoeuvred by the servants and his own long-suffering wife. Whether you’re already in the know or completely new to classical music, this is a programme to be enjoyed by all.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience. Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone. Performers String Quartet - Chaos Collective

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring like never seen before. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen and ABBA. Programme: - Dancing Queen - SOS - Money, Money, Money - Bohemian Rhapsody - I Want to Break Free - Waterloo - Super Trouper - Mamma Mia - Don't Stop Me Now - We Will Rock You - We Are the Champions Performers String Quartet - Kavolini.

Delighted to be hosting L. Y. R. again in Oxford and this time at the Holywell Music Room - the oldest purpose-built music hall in Europe! L. Y. R is author and current British poet laureate Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Richard Walters and multi-instrumentalist & producer Patrick Pearson. They astonished us back in 2022 with their soaring vocals, ethereal soundscapes and extraordinary lyrics - their shows are an unmissable and unforgettable experience, from a group who are now an essential part of the contemporary music scene. They are touring their ace new record 'Dark Sky Reservation' which came out in April. They play an intimate show at Holywell Music Room on Tues 1st Dec from 7:30pm - all ages and wheelchair accessible show.

Step into the fantastical worlds of Tim Burton and embark on a magical journey through the unforgettable music that brings them to life. А unique concert will take place in the iconic Parabola Arts, located in the heart of Cheltenham. From the shimmering wonder of Alice in Wonderland to the festive magic of The Nightmare Before Christmas, from the haunting lyricism of Edward Scissorhands to the eccentric brilliance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — this concert immerses you in the soundscapes that shaped Burton's unique cinematic universe. At the heart of it all is the music of Danny Elfman, Burton's lifelong collaborator and one of the most distinctive film composers of our time. Elfman's music blends playfulness with menace, tenderness with grandeur — a perfect mirror of Burton's visual imagination. Alongside Elfman, highlights include unforgettable moments from Corpse Bride, the cult favourite Beetlejuice, the gothic sweep of Batman, and the razor-sharp drama of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In this premiere, Mystery Ensemble brings Burton's worlds to life in unique arrangements. Expect soaring voices, bold instrumental colours, and an atmosphere that shifts in an instant — from the macabre to the magical, from the intimate to the epic. This is not just a soundtrack concert — it is a live theatrical experience. The concert's mysterious magic will arise from the connection between the musicians and the surrounding architecture. Feel as if you are stepping inside a Tim Burton movie itself! The concert organisers are the creative agency RED EVENTS & Distribution ltd, which produces exceptional cultural events in ancient mansions, on rooftops, in greenhouses, and in other most atmospheric venues across Europe, Great Britain, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and other countries. Also in the repertoire – a collection of concerts by candlelight and with complete immersion in the space of video art and sound.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose. Buy your tickets now to discover the music of Hans Zimmer under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Beethoven: String Quartet no 9 in C major, op 59 no 3 (“Razumovsky”)TBAThis superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Mozart: Piano Concerto no 24 in C minor, K 491TBAThis superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Beethoven: Piano Trio no 2 in G major, op 1 no 2Schumann, Robert: Piano Trio no 3 in G minor, op 110This superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Haydn: String Quartet in B flat major, op 76 no 4, Hob III:78 (“Sunrise”)Mendelssohn: String Quartet no 3 in D major, op 44 no 1This superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Haydn: String Quartet no 53 in D major, op 64 no 5, Hob III:63 (“The Lark”)Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, op 10This superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Janáček: String Quartet no 2, JW VII/13 (“Intimate Letters”)Mendelssohn: String Quartet no 5 in E flat major, op 44 no 3This superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Haydn: String Quartet in C major, op 74 no 1, Hob III:72Nielsen: String Quartet no 1 in G Minor, op 13This superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

Samrat Majumder (guitar)Fernando Sor: Trois Études, op 35 nos 22, 13 and 17Fernando Sor: Grand Solo, op 14Fernando Sor: Six Airs choisis de l'opéra de Mozart “Il Flauto Magico”, op 19Regondi: Introduction et Caprice, op 23Schubert: Drei Lieder- Lob der Tränen, D 711- Der Wanderer an den Mond, D 870- Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen, D 343This superb series of chamber music concerts was established in the 1986 in the amazing Holywell Music Room - the oldest concert hall in Europe.The concerts are every Sunday morning at 11.15am with coffee available at a local pub before the concert.Admission to children aged between 5 and 10 is FREE when accompanied by an adult - please call Oxford Coffee Concerts in advance on 07518 479 062 to book these tickets.Please note Oxford Coffee Concerts cannot admit children under the age of 5.If there is no availability via Tickets Oxford, please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.Wheelchair Spaces & Accessible SeatingIf you require a wheelchair space or accessible seating please call Oxford Coffee Concerts direct on 07518 479 062.

On 18 November, we return to the Holywell Music Room with A Hundred Strings in Oxford: Two Strings, One Pulse, a year after Raga Unison brought bansuri and tabla to the same room. Three musicians this time, and two ways of playing a raga on strings. Adnan Khan plays sitar in the gayaki ang, the approach that shapes the instrument after the singing voice. He took his first lessons from his grandfather, the late Ustad Zafar Ahmed Khan, and trains with his father, the sitar player Ustad Saeed Khan. Vinay Desai plays the santoor, Kashmir's hundred-stringed instrument, as a direct disciple of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. The sitar is plucked and slides between notes. The santoor is struck and cannot slide, so it moves in runs. The two instruments share a raga and take different routes through it. Ustad Akram Khan plays tabla for both halves. He is the seventh generation in his family in the Ajrada Gharana, learned from his great-grandfather, Ustad Mohammad Shafi Khan, and then from Ustad Niazu Khan, and teaches more than fifteen of the gharana's classic kaydas. Doors open at 6.45 pm and the music starts at 7 pm. Full running order to follow.

Popular 5-piece presents seasonal songs, dances, carols and readings celebrating a 17th-century Christmas. The concert is performed in period costume with a wealth of historic instruments such as lute, fiddle, hurdy gurdy, nyckelharpa and hammered dulcimer. 'Terrific entertainment!' Brian Kay, BBC Radio 3

Billy Lockett is a boy who's lived in Northampton his whole life. Learning to play piano in his basement, a room apparently full to the brim of old slot machines, canvases, board games and band equipment, Billy started playing aged 8 and hasn't stopped since.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring like never seen before. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Movie Soundtracks under the gentle glow of candlelight.

On 20th November 2026, in the candlelit intimacy of Oxford's Holywell Music Room - Europe's oldest purpose-built concert hall - Red Events presents an Oxford premiere: a recital for voice and piano performed by countertenor Gleb Zakharov and prize-winning pianist Elizaveta Velikhova. An intimate evening of love, longing and discovery.

Experience the majestic and timeless music of the legendary Lord of the Rings films in a breathtaking concert that will transport audiences straight into the heart of Tolkien’s universe. Howard Shore’s iconic soundtrack has captivated millions worldwide, and now, we bring it to you!

This is the 2nd concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society's 2025-2026 season. Click here for details of the full season. Formed in Berlin in 2019, the Leonkoro Quartet has quickly established itself as one of the most compelling young ensembles on the international chamber music circuit. The quartet's name - drawn from Esperanto words meaning "lionheart" - captures something of its character: fearless in approach, yet grounded in a serious engagement with the tradition it inhabits. The ensemble brings together violinists Jonathan Schwarz and Emiri Kakiuchi, violist Mayu Konoe and cellist Lukas Schwarz, musicians whose shared training and close musical rapport have shaped a distinctive and highly unified sound. The quartet's rise has been remarkably swift. In 2022 they won First Prize and nine special prizes at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, followed soon after by First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Concours International de Quatuor a Bordeaux. They were subsequently selected for the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists programme, a platform that has helped introduce them to audiences across Europe. Recent seasons have included debuts in major halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie, the Concertgebouw and the Konzerthaus Wien, alongside festival appearances and tours in North America. Writing about a recent recital at Wigmore Hall, The Guardian noted their 'vivid detail, precision and ensemble clarity'. Other reviewers noted the 'unity of their sound' and 'the careful shaping of musical structure', qualities that allow the group to bring both clarity and urgency to the repertoire they perform. Judith Weir praised their 'elegant and refreshing stage presence' in a recent performance at the Aldborough Festival. In Autumn 2023, the quartet released its debut album, featuring Ravel's String Quartet and Schumann's 3rd quartet. On 30 January 2026, they released 'Out of Vienna', which examines early-20th-century Viennese modernism and was named editor's choice by Gramophone Magazine. This evening's programme brings together three quartets that test the expressive possibilities of the genre in different ways. The D major Quartet, Op. 76 No. 5 by Joseph Haydn comes from the composer's final set of quartets, written when he was already celebrated across Europe; its expansive slow movement stretches the emotional scale of the classical quartet while the finale restores Haydn's characteristic wit. The Second String Quartet of Benjamin Britten, written for the 250th anniversary of Henry Purcell's death, concludes with a chaconne which transforms the work into a magnificent tribute to his revered forebear. Finally, the F minor Quartet, Op. 80 by Felix Mendelssohn stands among the most intense works in the repertoire: written shortly after the death of his sister Fanny Mendelssohn, it pushes the classical quartet language towards a restless and deeply personal emotional world. Jonathan Schwarz (violin), Emiri Kakiuchi (violin), Mayu Konoe (viola), Lukas Schwarz (cello) Programme Haydn - String Quartet op. 76 No.5 Britten - String Quartet No.2 Interval Mendelssohn - String Quartet No.6 Photos: (C) Leonkoro Quartet

This is the 4th concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society's 2025-2026 season. Click here for details of the full season. Founded in Barcelona in 2014, the Kebyart Saxophone Quartet has rapidly become one of the most distinctive ensembles in contemporary chamber music. While the saxophone has a comparatively short chamber-music history, the ensemble has embraced it for both the creation of new works and the imaginative re-thinking of music from earlier centuries. Their programmes frequently combine contemporary works written specifically for them with arrangements that reveal unexpected colours in familiar repertoire. The quartet has been praised for their 'synchronization, interpretative strength, and musical communication' (Catalan Music Magazine), while a recent concert at the Barbican was noted for offering 'a fresh perspective on traditional classical performance'. Today they present their programme punto di fuga which they describe as follows: 'The punto di fuga is where lines converge in pictorial art, the point on the horizon where all perspectives meet. In the same way, the program presents pieces that include fugues and, despite being from different periods, ultimately find common ground on the horizon. Two fugues in C minor open each of the two halves: Bach and Mozart. Bach's Passacaglia und Fuge connects directly with Cesar Franck, who, in his original organ work, draws on Bachian models. Widmann engages with historical forms such as chorales, like Bach, and waltzes, while simultaneously expanding the sound world through noise effects, unconventional key techniques, and the humorous Zirkusparade. For the second half, Mozart's C minor Adagio und Fuge links directly to Haas's quartet, which in a way functions as a total vanishing point, where continuous lines intertwine until they meet in an apotheotic ending. Finally, Ligeti's Bagatellen, besides including many small fugues in their movements (motifs that respond to and pass from one voice to another), also act as a punto di fuga, as each piece adds new notes in a journey toward the tonal horizon.' Pere Mendez - (Soprano Saxophone), Victor Serra (Alto Saxophone), Robert Seara (Tenor Saxophone), Daniel Miguel (Baritone Saxophone) Programme JS Bach - Passacaglia und Fuge c-Moll BWV 582 (Arr. Kebyart) Cesar Franck - Prelude, Fugue et Variation, Op. 18 (Arr. Kebyart) Jorg Widmann - 7 Capricci (2021) (written for Kebyart) Interval Mozart - Adagio und Fuge c-Moll KV 546 / KV 426 (Arr. Kebyart) Georg Friedrich Haas - Saxophonquartett (2014) Gyorgy Ligeti - Sechs Bagatellen (Arr. Kebyart) Photos: (C) Kebyart

This is the 5th concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society's 2025-2026 season. Click here for details of the full season. Trio Meister Raro was formed in 2022 by Robert Plane, Rachel Roberts, and Tim Horton. The trio grew out of their long-standing musical collaboration through Ensemble 360. The name Meister Raro is drawn from one of Robert Schumann's alter egos, reflecting the trio's thoughtful and attentive approach to collaborative music-making. Clarinettist Robert Plane has an extensive career as a soloist and chamber musician. Since winning the Royal Over-Seas League Gold Medal, he has performed widely in the UK and internationally. In a distinguished orchestral career, he has performed as guest principal clarinet with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Rachel Roberts is an internationally recognised violist, appearing regularly at major venues including Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw and the Musikverein. She is Professor of Viola at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has received multiple Diapason d'Or awards for her recordings. Tim Horton is a pianist known for his wide-ranging chamber music work. A founder member of the Leonore Piano Trio, he performs regularly across the UK and abroad and collaborates with many leading chamber musicians including Paul Lewis, Imogen Cooper, Alasdair Beatson, and Adrian Brendel. Their work as a trio focuses on the distinctive repertoire for clarinet, viola and piano, combining well-known works with less frequently performed music written for this instrumentation. The ensemble is dedicated to thoughtful, finely balanced interpretations, with particular attention to clarity of structure, close ensemble communication, and the dialogue between instruments that lies at the heart of chamber music. Their performances aim to illuminate both the architectural strength and expressive detail of each work, presenting chamber music as an active and collaborative exchange. Much of the ensemble's repertoire focuses on storytelling and fantasy, and this narrative element is reflected in today's programme 'Fantasie and Fairytales'. The opening work, Debussy's enchanted reverie or dream Rhapsodie, leads us into a romantic Phantasy by York Bowen before the picturesque Marchenerzahlungen (Fairy tales) of Robert Schumann. The second half of the concert begins with a piece by Huw Watkins inspired by a poem of Dylan Thomas that evokes the changing nature of water as it ebbs and flows, crashes and sighs. This is followed by another poetic inspiration - this time, Poe's Fairyland - a magical phantasy composed by Jospeh Holbrooke. Mozart's Trio K.498, described by Einstein as 'a work of intimate friendship and love' and that concludes with a rondo that 'sings from beginning to end' is a fitting finale to this afternoon's concert of dreams, rhapsodies, and fairytales. Robert Plane (clarinet), Rachel Roberts (viola), Tim Horton (piano) Programme Claude Debussy: Premiere Rhapsodie Edwin York Bowen: Phantasie, op. 54 Robert Schumann: Marchenerzahlungen, op. 132 Interval Huw Watkins: Speak Seven Seas Joseph Holbrooke: Nocturne, op. 57, no. 1, Fairyland Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano in E flat major, K. 498, Kegelstatt Photos: (C) Andrei Luca

This is the 6th concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society's 2025-2026 season. Click here for details of the full season. This string quartet of outstanding and experienced British chamber musicians was formed in 2019. Their album 'Howells & Wood Quartets' (Premiere Recordings) was widely praised: 'Perfection' BBC Music Magazine; 'full of vitality... expertly played' Fiona Maddocks, The Observer. It was The Gramophone recommended recording 2024 and featured on BBC Radio 3. Their further album of Charles Wood quartets (SOMM), was released at the English Music Festival in 2026. The LCE Quartet played late Beethoven for the 250th anniversary, Schubert for the Schubert Society of GB and at the Howells and Stanford festival in Cambridge. They opened Kensington & Chelsea Music Society's season in a sold-out concert with Quartet no.5 by Joseph Horovitz and Brahms Clarinet Quintet which Musical Opinion called 'superb high-quality chamber music-making'. In 2024/25 they performed in Music in Country Churches and Pinner Music Festivals, HHH Concerts, and Ludlow Assembly Rooms. They toured in Scotland and Wales and at prestigious events including London's Glaziers Hall; the US Embassy/Fulbright Commission; the international Red Violin Festival, Leeds; and the Three Choirs Festival 2026. Madeleine Mitchell won an RPS award for a film of her Anglo-Russian quartet programme with the V&A exhibition Faberge: Romance to Revolution which included the Borodin String Quartet no.2 (on YouTube). A return invitation followed, again sold out, for their quartet concert 'French Impressions' with the V&A Chanel exhibition. Today, they will play three quartets that navigate an historical and expressive journey across more than a century of chamber music, highlighting the evolution of modern string writing. The Debussy quartet, described by Kathy Henkel of the LA Phil as having 'attractive melodies and harmonies' with 'startlingly beautiful effects', employs the Aeolian mode with connotations of the wind God. John Whittaker's quartet 'In our Times' is partly inspired by the 14th century effigies 'The Aldworth Giants' of Aldworth Church in Berkshire where it was given its premiere in July 2022. The concert concludes with Herbert Howells, quartet No.3, a monumental piece whose sub-title 'In Gloucestershire' captures the pastoral beauty of the Cotswolds. Madeleine Mitchell (violin), Gordon MacKay (violin), Bridget Carey (viola), Joseph Spooner (cello) Programme Claude Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 (L.91), (1893) John Whittaker: String Quartet 'In our Times' (2022) Interval Herbert Howells: String Quartet No. 3, 'In Gloucestershire' (1916-20) Photos: (C) LCE Quartet

In the final concert of the OCMS 2026/2027 season we are delighted to welcome Maria Wloszczowska (violin) and Jams Coleman (piano) who will perform their programme 'Suite'. This programme explores many of the ways composers have engaged with older musical forms and traditions. Bach's Sonata in E major, BWV 1016 opens the recital with music of balance, energy, and lyricism, in which violin and keyboard converse as equal partners. Schnittke's 'Suite in the Old Style' reflects on Baroque and Classical dance forms from a twentieth-century perspective. The atmosphere softens with Debussy's 'Clair de lune', presented here in an arrangement for violin and piano that heightens its vocal lyricism and quiet, impressionistic textures, before Coleridge-Taylor's graceful Cavatina offers warmth and intimacy rooted in late Romantic songfulness. Following the interval, Korngold's 'Much Ado About Nothing' suite combines elegance, wit, and theatrical character. Two contrasting lullabies by Grazyna Bacewicz and Rebecca Clarke explore tenderness through subtly different harmonic languages: Bacewicz restrained and haunting, Clarke deeply lyrical and introspective. The programme concludes with Britten's youthful Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6. By turns playful, lyrical, and dramatic, it brings together many of the themes heard throughout the programme: tradition, reinvention, and the expressive possibilities of the violin and piano duo. This concert promises to be a superb finale to our season. Polish violinist Maria Wloszczowska is recognised for her versatile musicianship, performing as soloist, director/concertmaster, and chamber musician. Recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society's Emily Anderson Prize, the Hattori Foundation Senior Award and Poland's Minister of Culture and National Heritage Prize, she based herself in the UK after completing her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2018 she won both First Prize and Audience Prize at the XXI Leipzig International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition. Maria made her solo debut at the BBC Proms in the 2022/23 season. She gave her New York recital debut at 92NY with Jeremy Denk, performing all six Bach Sonatas for violin and keyboard. As Leader of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, she also directs a number of programmes; one of the highlights includes directing and performing Beethoven's Violin Concerto. Further afield, Maria made her Hong Kong debut at the Hong Kong Musicus Festival and joined the violin faculty at Yellow Barn, Vermont. Maria appears regularly at the Wigmore Hall and at international festivals such as Musikdorf Ernen in Switzerland, Lammermuir Festival and IMS Prussia Cove. Ahe has performed with many distinguished artists including Thomas Ades, Alasdair Beatson, Steven Isserlis, Steven Osborne, Hyeyoon Park, and Timothy Ridout. She leads the newly formed Valo Quartet, who made their debut appearance in Brussels under the auspices of the Festival Resonances. From Anglesey, North Wales, Jams Coleman is a pianist who has established a notable reputation as a soloist, chamber musician, and vocal accompanist. He read Music at Girton College, Cambridge, where he was also a Choral Scholar. He graduated with a Masters from the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded an ARAM in 2023. He will be taking over as Artistic Director of the Fishguard Festival of Music - a two-week festival of orchestral and chamber concerts in Pembrokeshire - from 2027. Jams regularly performs at prestigious festivals and venues in the UK and internationally and recent highlights include recitals at the Aldeburgh Festival, BBC Proms, Champs Hill, Cello Biennale (Amsterdam), Cheltenham Festival, Kings Place, Leeds Lieder Festival, LSO St Luke's, Ortus Chamber Music Festival (Cork), Oxford International Song Festival, Petworth Festival, Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, The Royal Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), and Wigmore Hall. He has performed with BBC NOW, Britten Sinfonia, the Elias Quartet, Karski Quartet, Kleio Quartet, Maxwell Quartet, and Marmen Quartet; and in many recitals with instrumentalists including Helene Clement, Simon Crawford-Phillips, Brett Dean, Vashti Hunter, Guy Johnston, Jonian Ilias Kadesha, Braimah Kanneh-Mason, Jennifer Pike, Timothy Ridout, and Jonathan Stone. He has played in recitals with singers Claire Booth, Katherine Broderick, James Newby, Nicky Spence, Sir John Tomlinson, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Elizabeth Watts. Maria Wloszczowska (violin), Jams Coleman (piano) Maria plays on a violin by Francesco Stradivari. Programme Bach - Sonata for Violin and Keyboard in E major, BWV 1016 Schnittke - 'Suite in the Old Style' Debussy - Suite bergamasque, 'Claire de lune' (arr. violin and piano) Coleridge-Taylor - Cavatina from Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 3 Interval Korngold - 'Much Ado About Nothing' Suite, Op. 11 Bacewicz - Kolysanka (Lullaby) for Violin and Piano R. Clarke - 'Lullaby' for Violin and Piano Britten - Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6

This is the 3rd concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society's 2025-2026 season. Click here for details of the full season. For over four decades, Fretwork has stood at the forefront of the viol consort revival, acclaimed worldwide for performances of extraordinary finesse, depth and expressive power. Renowned for redefining what a viol consort can be, Fretwork combines scholarship with fearless musical imagination, bringing both early masterpieces and new music vividly to life. Their programme Six Centuries, Five Viols is a striking celebration of the viol's uniquely enduring voice. Spanning six hundred years of music, the programme traces an unbroken lineage from the golden age of Renaissance polyphony, through the richly expressive works of the Baroque, to powerful contemporary compositions written especially for the ensemble. Each piece reflects a different moment in the viol's long history, revealing how its sound has continually inspired composers across radically changing musical worlds. Performed by five of the world's finest viol players, Six Centuries, Five Viols is both an exploration of musical time and a testament to the viol consort's timeless expressive range. By placing early music alongside living composers' responses to the instrument, Fretwork creates a programme that feels at once historically illuminating and urgently contemporary - an experience that is as intellectually engaging as it is sonically compelling. Elegant, searching and deeply communicative, Six Centuries, Five Viols offers audiences a rare opportunity to hear the viol consort not as a historical curiosity, but as a living, evolving ensemble with a voice that continues to resonate across centuries. Emilia Benjamin, Jonathan Rees, Jo Levine, Lucine Musaelian, Richard Boothby Programme William Lawes: Consort Sett in F major (c.1630) Barry Guy: Buzz (1995) William Byrd: In Nomine in 5 parts (c.1590) Claude Debussy: La fille aux cheveux de lin (1910) Fryderyk Chopin: Prelude in d minor (c.1820) John Paul Jones: The Tudor Pull (2020) Interval Giovanni Legrenzi: Sonata sesta (1673) John Jenkins: 2 Fantazies in 5 parts (c.1630) Edward Grieg: Heimweh Op.57 No. 6 (1893) Alfonso Ferrabosco: Hexachord Fantasy (c.1590) Johann Sebastian Bach: Passacaglia BWV 582 (c.1710) Photos: (C) Fretwork

The opening concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society [https://oxfordchambermusic.org] season is a welcome return to Oxford of the Martin Quartet on the 50th anniversary of their founding in 1976. The quartet has built a distinguished reputation, combining the central European quartet repertoire with a particular commitment to Czech music. From the outset, the ensemble developed a disciplined approach to performance, emphasising balance, precision, and structural awareness. Critics have highlighted their lovely sound and clear interpretive opinion (KlasikaPlus) as well as their beautifully and intensely conveyed performances with a bright, honest sound (BBC Music Magazine). Over the decades, they have performed in many of Europes major chamber-music venues and festivals. Their discography has contributed significantly to the renewed attention given to Martins chamber music. A multi-volume recording project of the composers string quartets established the ensemble as one of the foremost interpreters of this repertoire. Our concert today opens with Ravels quartet which displays a ' brilliant juxtaposition of formality and sensuality, and his incredible use of tone color ' (LA Phil).. The centrepiece of the programme, Martins quartet, written during the composers early years in Paris, blends Czech rhythmic energy with a cosmopolitan musical language. The concert concludes with the String Quintet by Schubert, an expansive late work whose additional cello creates a rich, resonant sound world. Its serene Adagio stands among the most profound slow movements in the chamber repertoire. The quartet is joined today by Gemma Rosefield, described by The Strad as a mesmerising musical treasure . She has given solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, and in The Diligentia, The Hague. Gemma has played throughout Europe, the USA, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Kenya and New Zealand. She is cellist with Ensemble 360 and the Leonore Piano Trio with whom she has made several recordings for Hyperion Records. Click here [https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/oxford-chamber-music-society] for details of the full season of concerts from the OCMS. Lubomr Havlk (violin), Adla tajnochrov (violin), Martin Stupka (viola), Jitka Vlankov (cello), with Gemma Rosefield (cello) Programme Ravel - String quartet in F major Martin - String Quartet no. 2, H. 150 ---- Interval ---- Schubert - String Quintet in C major (D. 956) Photos: Petra Hajsk