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An old instrument, a veteran star singer, and a late rose all bloom at Oxford's annual songfest.

High Romance in a small Midlands town: the Oxford Lieder Festival opening concert launches an enticing series.

Christoph Prégardien's spacious account of Die Schone Mullerin displayed his characteristically radiant sound and instinctive musicality, but was marred by flaws as the song cycle progressed.

Drawing names such as Sarah Connolly and Dame Felicity Lott to the dreaming spires, the Oxford Lieder Festival has defined itself as a leading musical exponent on an international level. It was fitting, then, that Alice Coote and Julius Drake should open the final weekend of the eleventh festival.

The Holywell Music Room in Oxford, with its bright and reverberant sound, was purpose-built as a concert hall, and opened in 1748. To hear four experienced and top-class singers last night, all of whom were able to work the specifics of this unique and historic room, to sing to it and use it as their instrument, was sheer joy.