Centred on the Georgian Holywell Music Room, Oxford Lieder is one of the most delightful and informal of festivals, back to its usual dimensions in 2015 after last year’s Schubert extravaganza. I have chosen the opening four days of the festival, with wide-ranging evening concerts by star singers including Sarah Connolly, soprano Sophie Karthäuser, baritone Stefan Loges and mezzo Katarina Karnéus.

While Schubert, Schumann Brahms and Wolf form the backbone of the festival, French song, from Berlioz to Poulenc, also features prominently. Another strand is German and French settings of English Scottish and Irish poets. The Monday lunchtime recital opens a lunchtime series that will include all the songs of Gabriel Fauré.

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER

2.30 onwards  Arrival at Parklands, 100 Banbury Rd (01865 554374). There is ample parking.

3.30-5.15   Study session in Parklands, with break for tea/coffee

5.45 (Optional) Dinner in a pre-booked restaurant within easy walking distance of the Holywell

7.30 Concert in the Sheldonian Theatre. Sarah Connolly (mezzo),

Graham Johnson (piano). Songs by Schubert (including settings of Walter Scott), Brahms and Wolf

Ends c 9.15; those feeling sociable might like to stop off for a drink en route to the hotel

 

 

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

10.30-12.30   Study session in Parklands, with break for tea/coffee

(Free afternoon to explore Oxford

7.30 Sophie Karthäuser (soprano), Eugene Asti (piano) Poulenc: set tings of poems by Paul Eluard; Schumannand Wolf: settings of poems by Eduard Mörike

Ends c 9.15. I shall book tables for those who would like to eat after the concert

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER

10.30-1.30 Study session in Parklands, with break for tea/coffee

7.30 Katarina Karnéus (mezzo), Stephan Loges (baritone), Sholto Kynoch (piano) Settings of Goethe by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and others

Finishes c9.15

                     

MONDAY 19 OCTOBER

10.15-12.15 Study session in Parklands, with break for tea/coffee

1.10 Victor Sicard (baritone), Anna Cardena (piano) Songs by Schubert and Fauré

5.45 (Optional) Dinner in a pre-booked restaurant

7.30 Gillian Keith (soprano), Matthew Hargreaves (bass-baritone),

Simon Lepper (piano): Settings of Burns, Moore and Byron etc by Schumann, Loewe and Berlioz