OXFORD PHILOMUSICA
ANNOUNCES NEW ASSOCIATIONS, EVENTS & VENUES FOR ITS 2004/5 CONCERT SEASON
³Human to Superhuman² was a journey Professor Lord Winston took millions of TV viewers on recently. In June, he comes to Oxford to take an Oxford
Philomusica audience on a musical
journey as he narrates Peter and the Wolf, preceded by a talk on an as yet undisclosed topic!
The orchestra¹s new season
got off to a sticky start with the sudden closure of the Sheldonian Theatre, its regular venue. The new brochure was withdrawn and a desperate search was
carried out to find alternative venues.
It was a question of damage limitation, as no equivalent-size theatre
exists in Oxford. So, decisions had to be made on whether a change of date or
change of programme would be more acceptable to the many who had already
purchased tickets.
The season¹s first concert,
on 29 October, offers the same programme but in the Town Hall, whereas that on 20 November offers the same soloist
violinist Thomas Bowes, plus
the presenter Humphrey Burton,
but with a change of programme and in the newly refurbished St Aldate¹s
Church.
New associations include the
newly formed Philharmonia Chamber Choir for a Christmas Messiah on 18 December; the world famous London Symphony Chorus for Carmina Burana on 26 February; the Oxford Bach Choir and their conductor Nicholas Cleobury for the mighty Tippett oratorio Child of our Time on 12 March and the Philharmonia Chorus joins forces with Oxford Philomusica Chorus for a sure-to-be memorable performance of the Verdi
Requiem on 8 May.
New venues include the two
aforementioned in Oxford; Bridgewater House for a joint fund-raising event in the presence of HRH
the Prince of Wales; New Theatre
with a much-welcomed visit of the orchestra¹s Patron, Maestro Vladimir
Ashkenazy and the Houses of
Parliament.
New events include our very
own OP¹s Last Night of the Proms on 18 June; our second traditional Viennese Ball on 14 February and a Birthday Recital to be given by OP¹s Music Director, Marios
Papadopoulos, on 21 December to mark
his half-century!
A memorable season
indeed!
For further information, pictures and interview
opportunities, please contact Carole Radford: 01753 771849; 07770 543616,
Carole@caroleradfordpr.com
Oxford¹s
Professional Symphony Orchestra
Dvorak Cello
Concerto in B minor Op 104
Sibelius Symphony
No 2 in D major Op 43
Alexander Chaushian cello
Marios Papadopoulos conductor
The Oxford Philomusica¹s
2004/5 Oxford season opens with two favourite works from the romantic
repertoire. The young
award-winning cellist Alexander Chaushian joins the orchestra in Dvorak¹s
exquisite Cello Concerto, while the second half features one of Sibelius¹ most
popular symphonies, with its memorable themes and exultant close.
Telephone 01865 305305 or
0870 7500659
In person: The Oxford
Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford\On Line: www.oxfordphil.com
Tickets: £30, £20, £10
Writer, broadcaster and TV
Music Director, Humphrey Burton, will introduce this evening¹s concert.
Tchaikovsky Violin
Concerto in D major, Op 35
Beethoven Symphony
No 7 in A major, Op 92
Thomas Bowes Violin
Marios Papadopoulos conductor
We are delighted to be
performing in the newly refurbished St Aldate¹s Church: a modern,
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of the City. The concert features the stunning violinist Thomas Bowes as
soloist for one of the most beloved of all concertos: Tchaikovsky¹s Violin
Concerto in D. The concert ends
with Beethoven¹s ever-popular symphony in A major under the baton of Marios
Papadopoulos.
Telephone 01865 305305 or
0870 7500659
In person: The Oxford
Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford\On Line: www.oxfordphil.com
Tickets: £30, £20, £10
THE OXFORD PHILOMUSICA
1. The
Oxford Philomusica was
founded in 1998 and
has since developed to become the most significant musical resource in
Oxford. It was launched with a
concert at London¹s Barbican Centre in November 1998 and gave its Oxford debut
the following February at The Sheldonian Theatre. A television documentary, produced by the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, highlighted the Oxford Philomusica¹s mission to establish
a professional symphony orchestra in the University City and was broadcast to
an audience of over 400 million people worldwide. As recognition of its work, the Oxford Philomusica was
honoured at a reception at 10 Downing Street in April 2002, hosted by Cherie
Blair.
In February 2001, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Patron of the Oxford Philomusica,
appeared with the orchestra as soloist and conductor at Oxford¹s Apollo Theatre
and again on 12 May 2003, for a
performance at St James¹s Palace in the presence of HRH Prince Phillip, Duke
of Edinburgh. The concert was held in aid of the
Prince¹s own charity: The Outward Bound Trust. Internationally
acclaimed soloists who have appeared with the orchestra include Steven
Isserlis, Angela Hewitt, Cristina Ortiz, Oxana Yablonskaya, Maurice Hasson,
Jean-Bernard Pommier, Igor Oistrakh, Charles Rose, John Lill, Chloe Hanslip and
Peter Donohoe. The Oxford
Philomusica¹s diverse range of promotions and other activities have made a
considerable contribution to Oxford¹s musical life, attracting critical praise
and securing a supportive audience for its work.
Beyond
Oxford, the orchestra has extended its touring programme to undertake visits to
Switzerland, Cyprus and Azerbaijan.
In March 2000, the Oxford Philomusica performed before a capacity
audience at the prestigious Sale Gaveau, Paris, and in November 2002 received
high critical acclaim following its appearance at the Athens Megaron. Its commitment to performing in London
continued with a concert given at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in February 2000
with further concerts planned.
2. In
August 1999, the Oxford Philomusica presented the first International Piano
Festival to be held in
Oxford, in collaboration with the European Piano Teachers Association.
Described as "the most significant annual musical event in the city"
(Oxford Times), the
Oxford Philomusica International Piano Festival now enjoys an international
reputation as a centre of learning for the musicians of tomorrow. The festival attracts a world class
line up of visiting artists of the
highest calibre and widest possible breadth of musical experience and the 2003
International Piano Festival intends to build on its enviable record by
offering an embarrassment of riches from the piano world.
Visiting
artists reads as a Who¹s Who in the Piano World and includes: Cristina
Ortiz, Maria Curcio, John Lill, Jack Gibbons, Martino Tirimo, Dmitry Bashkirov, Dmitry Alexeev, Piers Lane and
Menahem Pressler. Selection is by audition for
residential places as Participants and in 2004 demand exceeded the number of
available places 3 weeks before the closing date. Next Festival dates: 24-31 July 2005.
3. Education
and Community work, a
central part of the orchestra¹s mission, continues to grow. Oxford
Philomusica has funded pilot projects in the Wood Farm area of Oxford and at
the Oxford Hospital School. The
success of these schemes, together with close collaboration with hospital
boards, has led to a proposal for Oxford Philomusica to become the resident
orchestra at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
4. Marios
Papadopoulos, Founder
and Music Director of the Oxford Philomusica, made his London debut in 1974,
since when his career as pianist and conductor has developed on the
international stage. His interpretations of the Beethoven Sonatas, currently
being recorded, have compared with those of Schnabel, Brendel, Barenboim and
Kempf (Daily Telegraph and
Classic FM Magazine
Critics¹ Choice).
5.
In October
2002, Oxford Philomusica was appointed Orchestra in Residence at the
University of Oxford. This unique appointment is for an
initial five-year period and offers a wider reaching programme of mutual
benefit to the University and orchestra. As part of the University Residency,
Oxford Philomusica will continue to collaborate with the Faculty of Music on
its student education programmes and to establish major conferences and
colloquia . The highly successful
Orchestral Apprenticeship Scheme, now in its fifth year, will continue to
provide orchestral experience and coaching to selected students. Also available are conducting classes,
masterclasses and individual training given by Oxford Philomusica musicians.
6.
In
addition, the Orchestra hopes to develop a number of pioneering schemes with
other University departments using its resources of professional performing
musicians to explore non-musical areas of work and research such as medical and
neurological research, the psychology of music and performance and the effects
of music on a child¹s ability to learn.