Kidlington Amateur Operatic Society
KISS ME KATE
Gosford Hill School, Kidlington
Until Saturday, 7.30pm
Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/kidlingtonkaos
Cole Porter’s famously witty take on The Taming of the Shrew is still popular more than 80 years after it was written, and includes favourite songs ‘Another Opening, Another Show’, ‘I Hate Men’ and ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’. The story centres around the squabbling of Fred Graham, who is staging a musical version of the classic Shakespeare play, and his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, who is playing the lead. Throw in a couple of gangsters trying to settle a debt, and chaos ensues. Don’t miss this latest show from KAOS, on every night until Saturday.
Oxford Lieder Festival
DREAMS: WESENDONCK LIEDER
St John the Evangelist
Friday, 7.45pm
Tickets: 01865 591276 or www.oxfordlieder.co.uk
The Oxford Lieder Festival is sadly nearly at an end, but there’s still a few concerts left to savour this weekend. Tonight, German soprano Dorothea Röschmann makes her festival debut in what promises to be a glorious evening with Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Mahler’s Rückert Liederand songs by Schubert and Schumann. She is joined by her regular accompanist, Malcolm Martineau.
Oxford Lieder Festival
DURUFLE: REQUIEM
Merton College Chapel
Saturday, 4.30pm
Tickets: 01865 591276 or www.oxfordlieder.co.uk
As is now traditional, the Choir of Merton College give the early evening concert on the final day of the festival, this year performing Duruflé’s sublime Requiemin the glorious setting of Merton College’s 13th century chapel. The soloists are mezzo-soprano Olivia Warburton, a finalist at this year’s Young Artist Platform, and baritone Benson Wilson, winner of this year’s Kathleen Ferrier Awards. Benjamin Nicholas conducts.
Oxford Lieder Festival
CLOSING CONCERT: DANGEROUS LIAISONS
St John the Evangelist
Saturday, 7.30pm
Tickets: 01865 591276 or www.oxfordlieder.co.uk
Two acclaimed stars, soprano Louise Alder and baritone Nikolay Borchev, bring this year’s festival to a dramatic climax with songs by Schubert, Liszt, Schumann and others, with Sholto Kynoch on the piano. Don’t forget there are daytime concerts throughout Friday and Saturday, too; check the website for full details.
Edition UK
EDWARD CHILVERS IN CONCERT
Saturday, 7.30pm
St Mary’s Church, Henley-on-Thames
Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/editionuk
Ground-breaking pianist and composer Edward Chilvers returns to Henley to perform some of his new works, which he describes as “poly-tempo and meta-tempo compositions, layers of patterns within patterns”. His debut CD, 12 Etudes, released in 2016 and earning a 5* star review from International Piano magazine, will be available to buy.
Oxford Coffee Concerts
TIM HORTON, PIANO
Holywell Music Room
Sunday, 11.15am
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com
Pianist Tim Horton, also known as a founder member of the Leonore Piano Trio, returns to the Holywell to perform Schubert’s Sonata in A major, D959 and Chopin’s Barcarolle I F sharp major, op.60. This is the perfect, relaxing start to Sunday – and don’t forget that coffee is included in the price of the ticket and is served at The Vaults and Garden Café from 9.30am and the King’s Arms from 10.30am.
Music in Adderbury
ADDERBURY ENSEMBLE/VIV MCLEAN, PIANO
Church of St Peter & St Paul, Deddington
Sunday, 7pm
Tickets: 01865 305305 or www.ticketsoxford.com
If you missed the Adderbury Ensemble and Viv Mclean last week in Oxford, here’s another chance to catch them, this time in the lovely village of Deddington. The programme once again includes Dvorak’s Piano Quintet Op.81but this time it’s paired with Grieg’s String Quartet No.1 op.27.Featuring Viv Mclean (piano), Martyn Jackson (violin), Jenny Sacha (violin), Chris Windass (viola) and Jane Fenton (cello).
vOx Chamber Choir
SONG FOR ATHENE
St Michael at the Northgate, Oxford
Sunday, 7pm
Tickets: www.vox-choir-oxford.co.uk
John Tavener’s moving Song for Athene was written in 1993 in tribute to half-Greek actress Athene Hariades after she was killed in a cycling accident. Here it is performed by one of Oxford’s leading chamber choirs, alongside Lauridsen’s Madrigali, Martin’s Mass for double choir and Bax’s Mater ora filium. David Crown, the choir’s founder, conducts.
NICOLA LISLE
