Scintillating in Prokofiev: Martha Argerich at Oxford

By Roy Westbrook, 22 January 2017

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“here too was the youthful fire and panache, challenging the Oxford players to keep up”

Reviewed at Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on 21 January 2017

Monducci, Versus (World première)

Stravinsky, The Firebird: Suite

Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 3 in C major, Op.26

Liszt, Widmung, transcription of Schumann's liebeslied for piano, S 566

Martha Argerich, Piano

Marios Papadopoulos, Conductor

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

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

Stars shine on Oxford Philharmonic's 20th anniversary concert

Roy Westbrook, 12th January

When did three such luminaries last grace the same concert, let alone the same first half?

*****

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

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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.

Scintillating in Prokofiev, seductive in Schumann: Martha Argerich at Oxford