SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Other Links

Editorial Board

Google Site Search

Internet MusicWeb

Oxford Lieder Festival 2008: A preview from Anne Ozorio, 10^th-24^th October 2008 (AO)

Sir Thomas Allen - Picture © Sussie Ahlburg

This year's Oxford Lieder Festival starts October 10th, kicking off with a "Schubert Weekend" , three days of the big cycles – Florian Boesch in Winterreise, James Gilchrist in Die Schöne Müllerin, and Joshua Ellicott in Schwanenegesang.  Then there's the "lost" cycle, Kosegarten. This is a compilation of existing songs which Prof. Morten Solvik believes may have been presented as a group in Schubert’s time.  It’s rarely heard in this form and while it won’t  challenge the existing canon, it should be interesting.  It’s Schubert, after all !

Two of the greatest names in English singing will be featured.  Ian Partridge will be giving his farewell recital. Solid technique and good husbandry have kept him singing to the age of 70.  Sir Thomas Allen is a Patron of Oxford Lieder so he's singing a recital on Friday 17th, accompanied by Roger Vignoles. Seats are selling fast as Allen is so much loved. This concert is being held in the church of St Mary The Virgin where John later Cardinal Newman preached : it's the University Church in which the formal religious part of University life takes place - just across from the Sheldonian  and the Old Bodleian.

Another reason for going to hear Thomas Allen is to follow him up with the extra late night concert at the Holywell Music Room. It's Gweneth-Ann Jeffers singing Messiaen's Poèmes pour Mi , a stunning tour de force which is also rarely heard as it’s such a demanding piece to perform. Jeffers sang this at Cadogan Hall during the Proms this year, a stunning concert which many may have missed.  If anything this should be an even more interesting experience as the Holywell Music Room is so intimate, that the work's full nuances can be appreciated.

There’s also Zigeunerlieder, an evening of gypsy inspired songs by Brahms, Liszt, Janacek and Schumann performed by the Prince Consort,  one of the more exciting vocal ensembles to emerge in the last few years, who specialise in relatively neglected repertoire.  Along with some rarely heard songs by Liszt and Brahms's they are doing Janàček's Diary of One Who Disappeared. The buzz is that this will be one of the highlights, so keep Oct 16th free if you can. The evening before is devoted to Czech song (Martinu, Dvorak, Smetana).

It's Michael Berkeley's 60th birthday this year and Julius Drake  suggested he write a voice/piano arrangement of his Speaking Silence. So Drake will be playing this, with Susan Bickley singing – she's a specialist in new repertoire, and very good. They will do some Britten and Ravel as well.

More local colour comes later with another David Owen Norris special, "An Oxford Song Book" - various 18th century songs by composers who worked in the university. There will also be an "Oxford Musical Walk" earlier in the day. This isn't any average guided tour but  is designed around Oxford’s musical history. This is very rich indeed, as the Holywell Music Society was one of the first to encourage serious listening and music making in this country in the 18^th century. The Holywell Music Room, built in 1740, hosted performances by Mozart and Haydn, no less.

Sholto Kynoch - Festival Director and Pianist

 

The final evening concert is more like conventional "gala" insofar as a festival as original and lively as Oxford Lieder does such things. This features Lisa Milne and Mark Stone with Sholto Kynoch in a programme of Schubert, Wolf, Quilter and Britten.

But there is a lot more to Oxford Lieder than the festival. Its primary aim is to foster performance among young musicians and this year, the stars like Sir Thomas Allen are choosing young singers for "Fifteen minutes of fame" singing pre-concert extras before the main events. It is extremely important that young singers are given such exposure, because song as an art form needs live performances, rather than over-dependence on recordings.

Sarah Walker will be conducting master classes. Again this is a typical OLF understatement: Sarah Walker is an amazing personality, who communicates her love and enthusiasm for voice so well that these master classes are worth attending even if you don't sing.  They have become almost legendary. Richard Stokes, Eugene Asti and Julius Drake are also leading classes, so these are seriously useful, for anyone wanting to polish their Lieder skills. Participants get to put on a full concert of their own, too.

Even if you don't happen to sing, you can try the Find Your Voice workshop. After all, Schubertiades were for ordinary people, relaxed gatherings of Schubert's friends, most of whom weren't professional. They were fun, not formal. You can learn a lot about Lieder by trying for yourself. 

Oxford Lieder is special, an important feature of musical life in Britain. Please read more from the festival web site site and try to support it, because it’s an excellent cause.  The Festival is only the crowning glory of a year-long programme of concerts and workshops which benefit musicians all over the country.

The OLF website is : www.oxfordlieder.co.uk

Anne Ozorio


Back to Top                                                    Cumulative Index Page