Stars shine on Oxford Philharmonic's 20th anniversary concert

By Roy Westbrook, 13 January 2019

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“The closing pages produced a sheer bravura flair that this concerto too rarely provokes”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 12 January 2019

Bach, Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV1043

Schumann, Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54

Beethoven, Symphony no. 3 in E flat major "Eroica", Op.55

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Violin

Maxim Vengerov, Violin

Martha Argerich, Piano

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

Marios Papadopoulos, Conductor

Unsatisfying Mendelssohn from Eschenbach and the Oxford Philharmonic

Patrick Maxwell, 20th March

The Oxford Philharmonic offers uninspiring renditions Bach and Mendelssohn, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the orchestra under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach.

**111

In Memoriam: Strauss and Brahms from the Soloists of the Oxford Philharmonic

Jason Weir, 11th November

Impeccable musicianship from the string soloists of the Oxford Philhamonic in stirring accounts of Brahms' String Sextet in G major and Strauss' Metamorphosen.

****1

Caprice and conviction from Oxford Phil

Roy Westbrook, 26th October

I suspect that we seek out many of the world’s great soloists beacuse we know what we will get, but we might well seek out Buniatishvili because we don’t.

***11

Last minute replacement fails to dampen enthusiasm

Aaron Davies, 6th March

Valery Gergiev's late withdrawal meant Marios Papadopoulos, music director of the Oxford Philharmonic, stepped into the Russian's shoes.

****1

Karina Canellakis skippers a French voyage

Mark Pullinger, 28th January

Oxford may well be far from the coast, but it played host to a bracing French voyage last night at the Sheldonian Theatre.

***11

Scintillating in Prokofiev: Martha Argerich at Oxford

Roy Westbrook, 21st January

Fifty years on, Argerich is still the legendary tigress of the keyboard, yet more besides.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.