OXFORD CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009

 

This year’s Festival took place from Wednesday 30 September to Saturday 3 October with concerts at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, Holywell Music Room and University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

We heard some of the greatest pieces in the history of chamber music: from Bach and Beethoven to Berio and Cage as well as many other iconic composers and renegade iconoclasts. All opposed the conventions of their time - they rejected tradition and produced something new. Their work and vision continues to provoke and compel us to look at music and the world in new ways.

We were very happy that the 2009 festival welcomed back many friends: violinists Ivry Gitlis, Katherine Gowers and Daniel Rowland, cellists Bjørg Vaernes–Lewis and David Cohen, double bassist Zoran Marković, oboist Nicholas Daniel, clarinetist Chen Halevi and pianist Polina Leschenko. Also, some wonderful musicians new to OCMF: pianists Alexander Lonquich and Christina Barbuti and viola player Lise Berthaud.

The programme this year included Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata, Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto for violin, piano and strings, Schubert’s String Quintet in C, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for Piano Four Hands and Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8.

 

Priya Mitchell, Artistic Director