Return to Eden

Schubert‘s marvellous, full-hearted fantasy is one of the few works of his last years without any tragic edge whatever; it seems like two children playing innocently (and sometimes robustly!) in a beautiful garden. In the same playful spirit, our composer-in-residence Thomas Adès spins magical textures around four old English folktunes, and our festival ends with Beethoven Septet.

Join us after this final concert for the 2025 Festival Dinner Party – more information and tickets here.

Schubert Fantasy for violin and piano
Thomas Adès Märchentänze (Fairytale dances)
Beethoven Septet

Artists: Priya Mitchell, Dirk Mommertz, Alena Baeva, Irina Zahharenkova, Reto Bieri, Claude Frochaux, Sascha Bota

Every year the Oxford Chamber Music Festival brings together some of the most exciting classical musicians in Europe to live and play together for a week. Creative sparks fly as the players exchange musical partners and tackle the widest variety of sound-worlds.

“a musical miracle” – Daily Telegraph; “world-class by any standards” Time Out

With this year’s special 25th anniversary festival we hope to create a musical Eden in an increasingly troubled world. We celebrate in sound the glories of nature’s garden; explore the music of innocence and of human desire; and offer works which suggest the drama of the Fall, and the journey back to a state of spiritual grace.