Music and poetry unite and collide across centuries, from the Medieval to the Enlightenment to the present day. This year, the Oxford Lieder Festival will present a thrilling and innovative programme comprising more than forty events streamed over eight days.
At the heart of the festival will be a series of live-streamed concerts by international artists. Artist in Residence Ian Bostridge gives two concerts, a talk and a masterclass over the course of the Festival, and Carolyn Sampson returns to perform a new song cycle by Oxford Lieder’s Associate Composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad on Tuesday 13 October. Other international artists include Sarah Connolly (10 Oct), Lucy Crowe (12 Oct), James Gilchrist (13 Oct) premiering a work by Michael Zev Gordon, Professor of Composition at the University of Birmingham, Roderick Williams (16 Oct) and Christoph PrĂ©gardien (17 Oct). Chamber music includes the contemporary quartet The Hermes Experiment (13 Oct) premiering a work by Philip Venables.
Each evening recital will begin with a short group of Schubert songs performed by singers who have arguably been hardest hit by the current crisis - artists who are already forging careers but not yet at a stage where they can view the current crisis as only a temporary setback.
The Connections Across Time theme will bring out links between Bach and Schubert, Dowland and Britten. As well as live study events and masterclasses, every concert will offer a host of additional innovative content and resources, including pre-recorded talks and interviews, curated playlists and listening notes, available to ticket holders two weeks before the Festival.
Events will take place in locations throughout Oxford including some of its great libraries, the Radcliffe Observatory, and the Huxley Room of the Museum of Natural History where the Huxley-Wilberforce Debate took place in the 19th century. In addition to the central Oxford locations, Broughton Castle and Rycote Chapel, both just outside Oxford, are also playing host to Oxford Lieder events for the first time.
Artistic Director Sholto Kynoch said: “There was never any doubt in my mind that we needed to proceed with a Festival this year, and I was eager to explore and exploit the opportunities to be found in an online format. So we have been working on a trailblazing project with many of our favourite internationally renowned artists performing in venues around Oxford and streamed in superb quality. Although we are eager to be back sharing music in person - we are laying plans for a tremendous celebration of our 20th anniversary next year - I hope you’ll share our excitement at the rich programme we have on offer.”
Book tickets online at www.oxfordlieder.co.uk or phone the Box Office on 01865 591276