| PLEASE NOTE THAT MAXIM VENGEROV’S CELEBRATORY CONCERT ON 19 SEPTEMBER AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE OPENING OF OXFORD PHILHARMONIC’S 2022/23 SEASON WILL GO AHEAD ON SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER WITH MAXIM VENGEROV PLAYING TCHAIKOVSKY’S CONCERTO, WHICH HE PERFORMED FOR HM THE QUEEN. Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Marios Papadopoulos launch their 2022/23 Season with a star-studded line-up: Martha Argerich, Maxim Vengerov, Sir András Schiff, Mischa Maisky, John Wilson and more |
“…such a great evening of music-making. The Oxford Philharmonic is a superb ensemble, achieving a rich and deeply satisfying blend; section by section, these are some of the finest musicians I have ever heard. And when solo moments popped up, the individual players played like gods and goddesses.” Oberon’s Grove, US blogger Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and its founding conductor Marios Papadopoulos launch their 2022/23 season with a stellar line-up initiating celebrations for their 25th anniversary planned until December 2023. The 25th anniversary festivities commence with a Barbican concert on 6 February 2023 with Maxim Vengerov and a new celebratory work by John Rutter, before a German tour with Martha Argerich in spring 2023. The 2022/23 season opens in Oxford on 17 September with Maxim Vengerov performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, which he performed for HM the Queen. For Sarasate’s Navarra, Vengerov is joined with violinists from the Royal College of Music.Vengerov returns on 9 November to play Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and again on 6 February performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto for the Orchestra’s celebratory concert at Barbican. Throughout the 2022/23 season, the Oxford Philharmonic welcomes a cast of world-renowned soloists to Oxford’s historic Sheldonian Theatre including Martha Argerich, Maxim Vengerov, Paul Lewis, Alban Gerhardt, Samantha Ege, Leia Zhu, Alim Beisembayev, Louis Schwizgebel, Mahan Esfahani and more. Marios Papadopoulos passes the baton to conductors John Wilson, Andrew Litton, John Rutter, Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey and Owen Rees, for a wide range of programming from music by contemporary Afghan composers to choral masterworks, alongside chamber concerts celebrating the outstanding individual players within the orchestra. Following the success of their Carnegie Hall debut last season – “…world-class quality is what beamed from the stage at the orchestra’s New York debut” (Jon Sobel, Blogcritics) – Oxford Philharmonic make a debut tour to Isarphilharmonie in Munich, Germany, with world renowned pianist Martha Argerich who performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in Munich (2 April) and Heilbronn (3 April), following a concert in Oxford (31 March). Marios Papadopoulos commented, “The University of Oxford’s uncompromising sense of excellence continues to inspire us. This season, we welcome back to the Orchestra iconic soloists including our old friends Maxim Vengerov and Martha Argerich, while making new acquaintances too. We combine music old and new, known and unknown, big and small, punctuating the season with landmark large-scale legacy pieces. Once again, we will be joined by choirs that have helped make Oxford famous as a centre of musical as well as academic excellence. We perform music from all over the world all over the city − and beyond.” On 20 October, John Wilson conducts the Oxford Philharmonic for the first time in a programme including Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 5, Richard Rodney Bennett’s Partita and Ravel’s G Major Piano Concerto with pianist Louis Schwizgebel. On 17 November, Oxford Philharmonic marks the 20th anniversary of Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford with Oxford alumna Jennifer Pike in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, followed by a performance of Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Choir of Merton College and The Queen’s College. The concert also includes a premiere of a work selected from last year’s Composers’ Workshop by student Jieun Lee conducted by Oxford Philharmonic’s Conducting Fellow Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey. This season includes another world premiere by student composer Kevin Zheng‘s Poppy Song (9 November 2022). Marios Papadopoulos continues the Bruckner theme with his 4th Symphony and leads the Orchestra from the piano in Mozart’s 21st Piano Concerto “Elvira Madigan” on 8 December and closes the season on 29 June in Oxford with Bruckner’s 7th Symphony with Paul Lewis performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2. John Rutter returns to Oxford to conduct a Christmas concert on 15 December 2022 with soprano Susannah Hill and baritone Jonathan Brown. Three years ago, Rutter composed a new carol to thank the Oxford University vaccine scientists during lockdown with Sir Bryn Terfel giving the premiere of Rutter’s Joseph’s Carol in a streamed concert. Rutter revives the carol alongside Finzi’s In terra pax. Christmas celebrations continue with Handel’s Messiah with a cast including Alexandra Lowe, Christine Rice, Ed Lyon and Michael Mofidian on 21 December. Leeds Piano Competition finalist Alim Beisembayev recently gave a recital at the 2022 Oxford Piano Festival where the Guardian commented, “This is a pianist with a real future, no doubt.” He returns to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 on 14 January. 15-year-old sensation Leia Zhu, currently at school in Oxford, will perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto on 5 February. Following his sold-out Haydn recital at Christ Church last season, Sir András Schiff returns with a new surprise recital programme on 15 February. Conductor Andrew Litton takes the reins in a programme of Dvorak, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich with pianist Lise de la Salle on 9 March. On 6 April 2023, conductor Owen Rees leads his Choir of The Queen’s College and The Boys of Radley College Choir in Bach’s St Matthew Passion with a stunning line-up of soloists – Robert Murray as the Evangelist, Tristan Hambleton as Christus, Mary Bevan soprano, Helen Charlston mezzo-soprano, Mark Wilde tenor and David Stout baritone. Following her recent debut recital at the 2022 Oxford Piano Festival, Samantha Ege joins the Orchestra for the first time to perform Florence Price’s virtuosic Piano Concerto (22 April 2023). With conductor Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey, their programme American Journey includes William Grant Still’s Wood Notes, Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite. Soloists Mhairi Lawson, Thomas Elwin, Jonathan Brown and the Choir of Merton College join Marios Papadopoulos in Haydn’s uplifting Creation at the Sheldonian Theatre (29 April 2023) and at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London (6 May 2023). In September 2023, the Orchestra and the Choir of Merton College will bring Haydn’s Creation to New York at St Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. Soprano Ruby Hughes performs Britten’s Les Illuminations in a French Pastoral programme conducted by Nicolò Foron on 18 May. On 23 May, the Oxford Philharmonic makes a return appearance at Cadogan Hall with a programme of Mozart and Beethoven. On 3 June, Alban Gerhardt joins Marios Papadopoulos for Elgar’s Cello Concerto in Oxford. Following their revelatory concert at Spitalfields Music Festival last summer, Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey revitalises their Orchestral Music of Afghanistan programme in Oxford on 15 June. Ponchione-Bailey, who wrote a moving article about her experience of teaching conducting in Afghanistan to female and male students which appeared in The Guardian, conducts an ensemble of Afghan musicians and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in works by Afghan composers Elaha Soroor, Milad Yousufi, Arson Fahim, Meena Karimi, Mohsen Saifi, Qambar Nawshad, Ghafar Maliknezhad, Qudrat Wasefi and Zalai Pakta. Sheldonian Theatre The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s main orchestral venue is the magnificent Grade I listed Sheldonian Theatre, built between 1664 and 1668 after a design by Sir Christopher Wren. Handel conducted the first performance of his third Oratorio Athalia there in 1733, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 92 – subsequently nicknamed the ‘Oxford’ – was performed here in the presence of the composer following his acceptance of a Doctorate. The Orchestra also visits venues including Oxford Town Hall, where performances including three FUNomusica family concerts will take place during the season, and members of the Orchestra perform in Oxford’s historic Holywell Music Room, the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Europe. 2022/23 Season Listings |
| Saturday 17 September 2022, 8pm Oxford Town Hall, Oxford Tchaikovsky- Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 35 Sarasate- Navarra, Op. 33 Tchaikovsky – Symphony No.4 Maxim Vengerov violin Violinists from the Royal College of Music Marios Papadopoulos conductor Thursday 13 October 2022, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Schubert- Rondo for Violin and Strings, D. 438 Mozart- Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E-flat major, K. 297b Dvorak- Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88 Alejandro Carreño violin soloist Clara Dent oboe Laura Ruiz Ferreres clarinet Bence Bogányi bassoon Radek Baborák horn Marios Papadopoulos conductor Sunday 16 October 2022, 7:30pm St. John the Evangelist, Oxford Bach- Flute Sonata in B minor, BWV 1030 Bach- Flute Sonata in E minor, BWV 1034 Bach- Flute Sonata in E-flat major, BWV 1031 Bach- Flute Sonata in A major, BWV 1032 Bach- Flute Sonata in E major, BWV 1035 Anthony Robb flute Peter Adams cello Mahan Esfahani harpsichord Thursday 20 October 2022, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Richard Rodney Bennett- Partita Ravel- Piano Concerto in G major Vaughan Williams- Symphony No. 5 in D major Louis Schwizgebel piano John Wilson conductor Wednesday 9 November 2022, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Kevin Zheng- Poppy Song* Prokofiev-Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 Rimsky-Korsakov- Sheherazade Maxim Vengerov violin Marios Papadopoulos conductor Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor* Thursday 17 November 2022, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Brahms- Academic Festival Overture, Op.80 *Side-by-Side Mendelssohn- Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 Jieun Lee The Withdrawal* Bruckner- Te Deum Jennifer Pike violin Lauren Fagan soprano Claudia Huckle contralto David Junghoon Kim tenor Simon Shibambu bass-baritone The Choir of Merton College The Choir of The Queen’s College Marios Papadopoulos conductor Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor* Sunday 27 November 2022 Oxford Town Hall, Oxford FUNomusica – SPORT Alasdair Malloy presenter Thursday 8 December 2022, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Mozart- Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467, ‘Elvira Madigan’ Bruckner- Symphony No.4 in E-flat major Marios Papadopoulos piano/conductor Thursday 15 December 2022, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Christmas music including… Finzi- In terra pax, Op. 39 John Rutter- Joseph’s Carol Susannah Hill soprano Jonathan Brown baritone John Rutter conductor Wednesday 21 December 2022, 7:00pm Olivier Hall, St. Edward’s School, Oxford Handel- Messiah Alexandra Lowe soprano Christine Rice mezzo-soprano Ed Lyon tenor Michael Mofidian bass Choir to be announced Marios Papadopoulos conductor Sunday 8 January 2023, 3:00pm TS Eliot Theatre, Merton College, Oxford Haydn– Piano Trio No. 38 in G major ‘Gypsy Rondo’ Gliere- 8 Pieces for Violin & Cello, Op. 39 Mendelssohn- Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor Charlotte Scott violin Mats Lidström cello Marios Papadopoulos piano Wednesday 14 January 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Mozart– Divertimento in D major, K. 136 Mozart- Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K. 503 Mozart- Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385, ‘Haffner’ Alim Beisembayev piano Marios Papadopoulos conductor Sunday 5 February 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Tchaikovsky- Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 Brahms- Symphony No.2 in in D major, Op. 73 Leia Zhu violin Marios Papadopoulos conductor Monday 6 February 2023, 7.30pm Barbican Hall, London John Rutter- A birthday greeting Mendelssohn- Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 Brahms- Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 Maxim Vengerov violin Marios Papadopoulos conductor | Friday 15 February 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Programme tba from the stage Sir András Schiff piano Saturday 18 February 2023, 7:30pm Holywell Music Room, Oxford Brahms- Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78 Brahms- Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100 Brahms- Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 Fiona Khuong-Huu violin Hina Khuong-Huu violin Marios Papadopoulos piano Sunday 19 February 2023, 3:00pm Oxford Town Hall, Oxford FUNomusica: Mission Earth Alasdair Malloy presenter Thursday 9 March 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Dvorák- In Nature’s Realm Op. 91 *Side-by-Side Rachmaninov- Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 Shostakovich- Symphony No. 9 in E-flat major, Op. 70 Lise de la Salle piano Andrew Litton conductor Friday 31 March 2023, 7:30pm Oxford Town Hall, Oxford Sunday 2 April 2023, 8pm Isarphilharmonie, Munich *Debut performance Monday 3 April 2023, 7:30pm Konzert- und Kongresszentrum Harmonie, Heilbronn Mendelssohn- The Hebrides, Op. 26 Beethoven- Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 Mozart- Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, ‘Jupiter’ Martha Argerich piano Marios Papadopoulos conductor Thursday 6 April 2023, 7pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Bach- St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 Robert Murray Evangelist Tristan Hambleton Christus Mary Bevan soprano Helen Charlston mezzo-soprano Mark Wilde tenor David Stout baritone The Choir of The Queen’s College The Boys of Radley College Choir Owen Rees conductor Saturday 22 April 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Still- Wood Notes Price- Piano Concerto Barber- Adagio for Strings Copland- Appalachian Spring Suite Samantha Ege piano Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor Saturday 29 April 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Saturday 6 May 2023, 7:30pm St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London Haydn– The Creation Mhairi Lawson soprano Thomas Elwin tenor Jonathan Brown bass Merton College Choir Marios Papadopoulos conductor Saturday 13 May 2023, 7:30pm Holywell Music Room, Oxford Schubert- String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810 ‘Death and the Maiden’ Schubert– Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 ‘Trout’ Soloists of the Oxford Philharmonic Marios Papadopoulos conductor Thursday 18 May 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Fauré– Pelléas et Mélisande Suite Britten Les Illuminations Debussy- Prélude à l’aprés-midi d’un faune Ravel- Ma mère l’oye Ruby Hughes soprano Nicolò Foron conductor Tuesday 23 May 2023, 7.30pm Cadogan Hall, London Mozart– Piano Concerto in D minor, K. 466 Beethoven– Symphony No.7 in A major, Op. 92 Marios Papadopoulos piano/conductor Sunday 28 May 2023, 3:00pm Oxford Town Hall, Oxford FUNOmusica: Pirates Ahoy! Alasdair Malloy presenter Saturday 3 June 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Morfydd Llwyn Owen– Nocturne *Side-by-Side Elgar– Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 Elgar– Enigma Variations, Op. 36 Alban Gerhardt cello Marios Papadopoulos conductor Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey * conductor Thursday 15 June 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford The Orchestral Music of Afghanistan Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor Thursday 29 June 2023, 7:30pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Beethoven– Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat major, Op. 19 Bruckner– Symphony No. 7 in E major Paul Lewis piano Marios Papadopoulos conductor |
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Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra |
 | Since 1998, the Oxford Philharmonic has brought exciting and inspirational classical music performances to Oxford and beyond. Praised as ‘remarkable’ by The Spectator, the Orchestra prides itself on creating exceptional and unique musical experiences, bringing new and engaging interpretations to well-loved works in the classical repertoire. In June 2022 the Oxford Philharmonic made its Carnegie Hall debut, in a concert ‘enmeshed in soul-enriching playing’ (Oberon’s Grove) of ‘world-class quality’ (Blogcritics). |
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| The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra is dedicated to the highest standards of artistic excellence and musical integrity, and strives to create bold musical statements with every concert it presents. Its continual search for excellence is underpinned by the uncompromising standards of its Founder and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos and maintained by some of the finest musicians, whom ‘Papadopoulos has moulded into a stunning group’ (ConcertoNet). The Oxford Philharmonic attracts some of the world’s greatest artists to appear in concert, including Maxim Vengerov, Angela Gheorghiu, Sir Antonio Pappano, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Martha Argerich, Sir András Schiff, Lang Lang, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Evgeny Kissin and Sir Bryn Terfel. In addition to its annual concert season in Oxford, touring performances across the UK, family concerts, annual Oxford Piano Festival, and Chamber Music Series, the Orchestra is proud to present a growing list of international engagements including its debut at the Tivoli Festival in Copenhagen in June 2019, US debut at Carnegie Hall in June 2022, debut at the Isarphilharmonie in Munich with pianist Martha Argerich in April 2023, and Haydn’s The Creation in September 2023 at St Thomas Church Fifth Avenue New York, joined by the Choir of Merton College. The Oxford Philharmonic was appointed the Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford in 2002, the first relationship of its kind between an orchestra and a higher education institution. World-renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov became the Oxford Philharmonic’s first ever Artist in Residence following his remarkable debut with the Orchestra in 2013. Over an unprecedented four-season collaboration, Vengerov performed with the Orchestra across the UK, recorded the violin concertos of Brahms and Sibelius as well as Mendelssohn’s Octet. In July 2018 Vengerov appeared at Cheltenham Music Festival and Saffron Hall with the Soloists of the Oxford Philharmonic – a tight-knit group of musicians described by Jessica Duchen as ‘a line-up to match any top-notch international chamber ensemble and probably beat them on their own turf’. In February 2023 the Orchestra celebrates its 25th anniversary in a special concert at the Barbican with Maxim Vengerov playing Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and a new commission from John Rutter. In December 2020, the Orchestra recorded a concert in a tribute to all those working on developing a vaccine for Covid-19 at the University of Oxford, including the world premiere of John Rutter’s Joseph’s Carol, commissioned by the Orchestra for the occasion. In addition to Rutter, the Orchestra were joined in their tribute by Sir Bryn Terfel and the Choir of Merton College, Oxford. The film was presented by John Suchet, and also included a special performance by Maxim Vengerov alongside tributes from Anne-Sophie Mutter, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford Louise Richardson, and the Orchestra’s Royal Patron HRH Princess Alexandra. The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has been firmly committed to outreach work from its earliest days, with projects taking music to areas of social and economic disadvantage, including hospitals, special schools, and partnerships with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. In December 2021 the Orchestra’s Sub-Principal Violin Jamie Hutchinson was awarded the prestigious Salomon Prize, a joint prize between the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) and Association of British Orchestras (ABO), in recognition of the educational initiatives she spearheaded with the Orchestra’s education team during the pandemic. As Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford, the Oxford Philharmonic frequently collaborates with the Faculty of Music in educational programmes with various tuition and performance opportunities for talented young musicians, including the Side-by-Side scheme, which provides an opportunity for young musicians to perform within the ranks of a professional orchestra. The Oxford Philharmonic has appeared on several recordings including works by Nimrod Borenstein for Chandos, cello concertos by Shostakovich and Mats Lidström (Solo Cello of the Oxford Philharmonic), both conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy, on BIS Records, A Merton Christmas with the Choir of Merton College, Haydn’s The Creation with the Choir of New College, and the Handel/Mendelssohn Acis and Galatea with Christ Church Cathedral Choir. The Orchestra’s most recent disc The Enlightened Trumpet with soloist Paul Merkelo was released on Sony Classical in September 2019. A partnership with J & A Beare provides the Orchestra’s distinguished members with opportunities to play on Stradivari instruments, adding a new dimension to the sound of the Orchestra. The Orchestra and its Music Director were awarded the City of Oxford’s Certificate of Honour in 2013, in recognition of their contribution to education and performance in Oxford. Marios Papadopoulos |
 | Marios Papadopoulos is the Founder and Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford. His 1974 recital at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall was described by the The Times as an ‘astonishing debut’, with his recital in the same venue a year later eliciting further praise from the same critic who described him as having ‘all the attributes of one of the world’s greatest players’. |
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| Papadopoulos has since gone on to enjoy an international career both as pianist and conductor. He has worked with a host of eminent musicians including Maxim Vengerov, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Evgeny Kissin, Joyce DiDonato, Menahem Pressler, Renée Fleming, Martha Argerich and Lang Lang. Papadopoulos’s recording catalogue includes his critically acclaimed Beethoven sonatas – which have been set on a level with Schnabel, Brendel, Barenboim, and Kempff (Daily Telegraph, Classic FM Magazine) – and works by Stravinsky (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Mozart, Mussorgsky, Franck and Shostakovich. He and Maxim Vengerov have recorded the complete Brahms violin sonatas and performed them at Vienna’s Musikverein in 2016. Papadopoulos has conducted the complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies and directed from the keyboard the five piano concertos in the Oxford Philharmonic’s 2008 Beethoven Festival, a feat he repeated to celebrate the Orchestra’s 15th anniversary in the 2013/14 concert season. Papadopoulos holds a doctorate in music from City University and is both a member of the Oxford University Faculty of Music and Fellow by Special Election of Keble College Oxford. He became an Honorary Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2010 and was awarded Oxford City’s Certificate of Honour in 2013. Papadopoulos was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2014 New Year’s Honours List for services to music in Oxford. His book Beyond Dreams and Aspirations was published in summer 2020 and charts his early career, the creation of the Oxford Philharmonic and his thoughts on musical interpretation. www.oxfordphil.com |