Christ Church, Oxford Marks 500 Years of Music with Landmark Festival

Oxford, UK. As part of its 500th anniversary celebrations, Christ Church, University of Oxford is launching the Christ Church 500 Music Festival – a series of concerts, recitals and special events throughout October and November.

Founded in 1525 by Thomas Wolsey as Cardinal College – later re-established as ‘Christ Church’ by King Henry VIII – Christ Church today is a joint Foundation: both a University of Oxford college and Oxford’s Cathedral. Music has played a central role in the life of the Foundation throughout its history, not least thanks to the work of its world-famous choir, established in 1525 with John Taverner as the first Organist and Master of the Choristers.

The festival celebrates the music and musicians who have played and continue to play a role in the life of the College, Cathedral, City and beyond. The music of Taverner, Dowland and Walton is well represented, as are contemporary composers, in performances by singers and instrumentalists who have studied and worked at Christ Church. Christ Church is also pleased to be hosting renowned ensembles such as The English Concert, Phantasm and Alamire, and a roster of top soloists.

Programme highlights

Christ Church 500 Music Festival begins on 1 October with a special performance of Franz Joseph Haydn’s magnum opus The Creation for which the world-renowned Cathedral Choir is joined by the prominent baroque orchestra The English Concert and Christ Church’s girls’ choir Frideswide Voices. Conducted by Peter Holder, the production features solo performances from Carolyn Sampson (soprano), William Balkwill (tenor) and Thomas Humphreys (bass).

The Music Festival concludes on 25 November with a performance of William Walton’s Façade – An Entertainment. First performed in 1923, Façade sets a series of poems by renowned English modernist Edith Sitwell to rhythmically vibrant and even jazz-influenced music. This performance takes place around a three-course meal with wine in the Renaissance grandeur of Christ Church’s Great Hall.

Other upcoming events include:

• 9 October – Violin and piano recital: Christ Church alumnus Charlie Lovell-Jones (2017, Music) and Julian Chan present the complete works for violin and piano by Sir William Walton, including the Italianate Two Pieces, alongside Mozart’s final large-scale work for violin and piano, and Respighi’s Violin Sonata (1917).
• 28 October – Piano recital: Louise Guy, currently studying Law at Christ Church, performs a programme of Romantic repertoire: Chopin’s Grande Polonaise, Liszt’s La Campanella, and more.
• 30 October – Organ recital: From African and English folk melodies to an original theme of J. S. Bach – even student drinking songs – this inaugural recital by Peter Holder, Organist of Christ Church, takes the works of four Western composers woven around earlier themes, inspired by the first Organist to be appointed to Cardinal College by Wolsey, John Taverner, and his seminal Mass setting based on the 16th-century song Western Wynde.
• 1 November – In conversation: Errollyn Wallen CBE, Master of the King’s Music, discusses her life and work with Dr Leah Broad in the Christ Church Upper Library.
• 16 November – Piano recital: alumna Judith Valerie Engel presents a programme showcasing women composers of European musical life who have been historically under-represented.
• 19 November – Alamire Sings Taverner: the consort ensemble Alamire, under David Skinner, perform works by John Taverner that demonstrate the expansive and flamboyant style that helped shape early Christ Church music-making.
• 20 November – The Little Kitchen: a new music ensemble presents a programme including works by Bobby McFerrin, Phoebe Bridgers, João Gilberto, and more, with arrangements by Luke Sitaraman (Lay Clerk, Christ Church Cathedral Choir) and Daniel Munks.
• 21 November – Piano Recital: Libby Burgess – organist, pianist, and Christ Church alumna – performs works by J. S. Bach, Ferruccio Busoni and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, as well as compositions by those connected to Christ Church’s five-century musical tradition.
• 22 November – John Dowland’s Lachrimae: The award-winning viol consort Phantasm with acclaimed lute player Professor Elizabeth Kenny perform Lachrimae, a masterpiece of early English music.
• 25 November – William Walton’s Façade: Poems by Edith Sitwell set to music with three course dinner in the Great Hall.

The Very Revd Professor Sarah Foot, Dean of Christ Church, said: ‘From the earliest Tudor compositions to 20th-century English masters and contemporary voices, we invite audiences to journey with us through Christ Church’s musical legacy.’

Tickets for Christ Church 500 Music Festival events will become available as they are released via the Music in Oxford website, at https://www.musicatoxford.com/partner-events/.

 

Tickets for the following Christ Church 500 Music Festival events are now available:

• • 1 October: Haydn: The Creation
  • 9 October: Violin and Piano Recital: Charlie Lovell-Jones and Julian Chan
  • 28 October: Piano Recital: Louise Guy
  • 30 October: Organ Recital: Peter Holder
  • 1 November: In Conversation with Errollyn Wallen
  • 16 November: Piano Recital: Judith Valerie Engel
  • 19 November: Alamire Sings Taverner
  • 20 November: The Little Kitchen
  • 21 November: Piano Recital: Libby Burgess
  • 22 November: Phantasm Viol Consort with Elizabeth Kenny
  • 25 November: Walton: Facade