Music at Oxford solidifies its position as a hub for national and international
music interest with the return of its concert series for 2022-23, just one year
away from celebrating its 40th anniversary.
● The forthcoming season invites internationally-renowned musicians and
composers, with the ever-popular music of Graham Fitkin (7 October), Kitty
Whately and William Vann (4 December) performing the works of Vaughan
Williams, before ringing in the new year with the Cory Band (15 January).
● At the heart of the season will be Music at Oxford’s most ambitious project,
ARVO PÄRT… and a Littlemore, a music festival running from 18 – 25
November 2022 and taking place at various venues across the city.
● Speaking about this season’s exciting programme, Music at Oxford’s Artistic
and Executive Director, Rebecca Dawson says, “As an Estonian who was raised
under Soviet rule and eventually had to leave his country along with his wife and
children, Pärt understands the importance of peace, which is reflected in our festival.
We all know that music can bring joy and excitement, but it is also of great benefit to
the health and well-being of us all.”
● Taking its namesake from the Littlemore Tractus, commissioned by a local vicar
of the same parish where it will receive a special performance (18 November),
the festival celebrates the world-famous Estonian composer’s long life and far-
reaching influence while also celebrating over 100 years of strong diplomatic
relations between Estonia and the UK.
● The week-long event will see several UK premieres of the composer’s work and
special presentations, such as the Choir of New College placing the sacred
music of Arvo Pärt in its liturgical context (22 November), an exploration of
Fratres and the tintinnabuli musical language pioneered by Pärt (22 November),
and a celebration of important female Estonian composers Evelin Seppar and
Galina Grigorjeva, who will also speak about their work (24 November).
● Performers at the festival will include some of Pärt’s closest musical allies and
internationally-acclaimed musicians, such as the Estonian Philharmonic
Chamber Choir; Raschèr Saxophone Quartet; and O/Modernt led by the
renowned violinist Hugo Ticciati.
● Several community and education projects are built into the festival, including
workshops by The Carice Singers and Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, as well as
the UK premiere of Pärt’s Songs from Childhood, composed between the 1950s
and 70s, to be performed for the public at St Edward’s School by local children’s
choirs. ARVO PÄRT…and a Littlemore has been over three years in the making,
in partnership with the Estonian Embassy in London and the Arvo Pärt Centre.
The Estonian Ambassador to the UK, H.E Mr Viljar Lubi is the festival’s patron.