Unsatisfying Mendelssohn from Eschenbach and the Oxford Philharmonic

Christoph Eschenbach, Thomas Zehetmair and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

By Patrick Maxwell, 20 March 2025

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“the brass section resounded in the third movement’s horn calls”

Reviewed at Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on 20 March 2025

Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream: Overture, Op.21

Bach, Violin Concerto in E major, BWV1042

Mendelssohn, Symphony no. 4 in A major "Italian", Op.90

Christoph Eschenbach, Conductor

Thomas Zehetmair, Violin

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

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

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

More reviews...

Patrick Maxwell

Patrick Maxwell is a writer and journalist, based as a historian at New College, Oxford. He regularly reviews books for The Big Issue in Scotland, writes editions of Russian literature for Warbler Press in New York and on news and culture for the online magazine The Article in London. A chorister at Westminster Abbey, he sings in the Choir of New College, and is the Conducting Scholar of Schola Cantorum. Patrick divides his time between Oxford and London.

Restless but unsatisfying Mendelssohn from Eschenbach and the Oxford Philharmonic