Oxford Festival Of The Arts has announced a stunning line up this year with over 100 events to choose from, all based around this year’s theme Magnificent Oxford. And with a reputation for bringing some of the biggest names to Oxford and the most eclectic programming in town, we are in for a treat.
Tickets have just been released, so get in quick, because their events always sell out fast! Which is why we’ve compiled our top tips – the events you simply cannot miss – from exhibitions and concerts, comedy and community experiences, to ceilidh and dance, running through May, June and July throughout Oxfordshire.
“OFA this year is a celebration of everything that’s magnificent about Oxford, and we want to include the community in that so have included lots of participatory events, many with free entry,” explains Festival Director Michelle Castelletti.
One of the most exciting reveals is The BBC Big Band Simply Swing on July 13 headed up by renowned singer Iain Mackenzie and conductor Barry Forgie. Widely regarded as one the world’s leading jazz orchestras, The BBC Big Band plays at at some of the country’s most prestigious global venues, collaborating with the likes of Tony Bennett, Robert Palmer, Van Morrison, Amy Winehouse, Michael Buble, Van Morrison and Ray Charles to name just a few! BOOK HERE
What is YOUR Oxford? Photography exhibition May 3-11, Pembroke Art Gallery. Free entrance. Curated from over 1000 submitted photographs in answer to an open call, and offering a fascinating insight into what Oxford means to those who live in or around the city, or have a special connection to Oxford. Narrowed down to 50 photographs by a panel of judges, with several children’s submissions as well, they vary in technique and style from graffiti to animals and local landmarks, demonstrating both towns and gown. Held in collaboration with Oxfordshire Artweeks and Photo Oxford. FIND OUT MORE HERE
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra: Fire and Water, The Sheldonian, July 12. Handel spent a week in Oxford in 1733, directing a festival of his own music, and conducting one of his oratorios, Athalia, in The Sheldonian. Enjoy a majestic Baroque celebration of the famous composer’s Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Throw in Pachelbel’s timeless Canon and Telemann’s Tafelmusik and be transported back to some rarefied 18th century courtly celebrations. BOOK HERE
Aakash Odedra Company: Songs of the Bulbul, July 2, Oxford Playhouse. Described as ‘a work of exquisite beauty and sadness that stays with you forever’, this captivating new dance performance by Aakash Odedra inspired by the ancient Sufi myth of a caged songbird, features choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan, merging music, dance, and poetry traditions. BOOK HERE
Voice: Medieval Women in Song, June 15, Beckley Church, celebrating women in medieval music as composers, icons, and narrators with sacred and secular songs from across Europe. World renowned group Voice Trio’s programme features the beautiful chant of St Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179), medieval songs about the ever-popular holy maiden St Mary, ‘laude’ (praise songs), and songs exploring secular subjects of desire, sisterhood, and unattainable love. The trio will also perform new works by contemporary female composers whose compositions are influenced by these medieval women. Professor Elizabeth Gemmill will give a short pre-talk about Medieval women inspired by the divine. BOOK HERE
‘MONDAY NIGHT IS FILM NIGHT’ at Magdalen College Antechapel, Monday 16 & 23 June. Enjoy early silent film masterpiece Alice in Wonderland, that no silent film fan should miss on Monday June 16. The 1915 silent film adaptation of the fantastical story so intertwined with Oxford. Plus the very first ‘cinematic’ Alice – a once-lost version, pre-dating this silent film by 12 years and restored by the British Film Institute. Then on June 23 catch a rare screening of remarkable 1922-3 film, Salomé, a spectacular adaptation of the play by Oscar Wilde, one of Magdalen College’s most infamous alumni, which never achieved box office success as it was considered too risqué amidst rumours that the entire cast were gay or bisexual. Accompanied by live music via organist David Bednall.
Disappearance of Worlds, an exhibition by Chantal Meza, June 7 to 21 at Pembroke Art Gallery. The Mexican painter, living and working in the UK, confronts the violence, terror, and the complexities of disappearance in both a human and ecological context, accompanied by a series of talks, panel discussions, and events that we are curating linked to this exhibition. Details about each talk are on our events page. MORE DETAILS HERE
MAGNIFICAT! Tuesday July 1, Oxford Town Hall. The Choral Foundations in Concert include Magdalen College Choir, New College Choir and Cathedral Choir of Christ Church, Frideswide Voices and Instruments of Time and Truth. An evening celebrating magnificence with The Three Choral Foundations, opening with Handel’s Ode to St Cecilia – the patron saint
of music – a work that was so popular that it was revived nine times for performances by Handel during his lifetime. Then follow the unique orchestration of the Brandenburg Concerto No 4. The evening will end with Bach’s grand Magnificat, with five soloists, a five-part choir, and a large orchestra. BOOK HERE
Melomania with violinist Bojan Čičić, violin and dancer Stéphanie Brochard, Thursday July 10, OFA Festival Hall. A danced concert where two artists express their shared folie for music – one through sound, the other through movement – creating a visceral dialogue between the two ‘in the round’. Prepare yourself to become part of an intimate, powerful, fragile, daring performance.
Hilary Mantel – The Wolf Hall Trilogy, Upper Library, Christ Church College, Wednesday June 28. A vivid retelling of Thomas Cromwell’s life, career, and death. Welcome to the debate! Who tells the best story – history, or literature? Following the talk, there will be the opportunity to visit the exhibition, which will also be displaying Thomas Wolsey’s Epistle-Lectionary, Christ Church MS. 101 (1528) – a manuscript of impressive craftsmanship, splendour and magnificence!
Baroness Joan Bakewell in conversation with MCS head Helen Pike, Wednesday July 9, OFA’s Festival Hall. The English journalist, television presenter, author, and playwright, recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship, awarded a Life Peerage by the Labour Party, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, UK’s Humanist of the Year. Baroness Bakewell is widely-acclaimed for her exceptional arts coverage and campaigning on censorship, abortion, divorce, race and equality. She is also a long-time champion of women’s rights and was appointed ‘Voice of Older People’. All of which will make for a lively discussion.
An evening with Roderick Williams & ORA Singers, University Church SMV, July 8, when Suzi Digby OBE and ORA Singers are joined by the baritone and composer Roderick Williams for a special evening of conversation and music. Find out more about one of Britain’s most distinguished musical voices as Suzi explores Roderick’s early life, accompanied by the internationally-renowned ORA Singers in the form of John Sheppard, Ryan Wigglesworth, Kenneth Leighton, and Orlando Gibbons. Send any questions for Roderick to info@artsfestivaloxford.org by June 15. BOOK HERE
Festival Cèilidh with Moonaroon, Saturday 28 June, OFA Festival Hall. Back by popular demand! Founded in Oxford’s legendary Half Moon pub, and performing together since 2019, their traditional Irish sound is inspired by Fleadh-winning bands to give audiences a thrilling night of dancing that feels rooted in tradition, with fabulous fiddles, irresistible rhythms, and calls that will get any dancer – from beginner to veteran – spinning and cheering on the dancefloor!
Jane Austen meets Bridgerton, OFA Festival Hall, Monday June 30. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen, enter a Georgian world of dance and music with The Georgettes of Oxford in historical dress performing period versions of the dances in films of Austen’s works. Join in with dancing feet, wigs and costumes! The Capability Consort – a dance quartet using period instruments – will also be on hand to reflect the world depicted by Bridgerton, followed by a ‘Sancho Session’ where audiences can bring readings, sing a song, dance, or simply enjoy the whole affair. Participation is voluntary, informal, and cheerful. 18th-century dress is optional!
Haydn in Oxford, Sheldonian Theatre, Friday June 27. A celebration of Haydn’s relationship with the city and university, together with violinist Jennifer Pike and conductor Steven Devine – two exceptional musicians who studied in Oxford, and the elegance and brilliance of the English Haydn Orchestra on their first visit here. TICKETS HERE
Exhibition: JAMES GEMMILL: IN FLUX, May 17-25, Pembroke College Art Gallery. BAFTA member James Gemmill hails from America and now lives in Oxfordshire. His artistic career has been wide-ranging – he has worked in film (including the well-known The Da Vinci Code, Star Wars, Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins Returns). He is also exhibiting in NINE at Blackfriars Priory Church from May 8-11 – visual art by the brethren and wider community of Blackfriars, including Augustine Chen, Gerald Isiguzo, Helen Elwes, Jane Dowling, Janet Boulton, Michael Finn, Peter Rona, and Richard Brown.
Paul Lewis, piano SJE Arts, St John the Evangelist Church, May 1. The internationally-renown pianist needs no introduction. In demand as a soloist with foremost orchestras, performing recitals at the world’s most prestigious venues and a regular at the BBC Proms, it is with Beethoven that this concert will begin and end, encasing Mozart and Brahms. BOOK HERE
For more on Oxford Festival Of The Arts go to https://artsfestivaloxford.org/whats-on/full-ofa-2024-listing/
