The Oxford Lieder Festival (recently renamed to Oxford International Song Festival) is an annual event (typically held in October) that celebrates classical song and art song. It attracts world-class singers, pianists, and musicians to Oxford for a series of recitals, concerts, and talks. The festival spans multiple venues across the city, including historic colleges, churches, and concert halls, providing a unique and intimate setting for performances.
2024 Theme: Cities of Song
Each year, the festival has a different theme, exploring a range of composers, languages, and periods. It’s a highlight for classical music lovers, offering everything from solo recitals to large-scale performances, along with opportunities for education and engagement through masterclasses and workshops.
The theme for the Oxford Lieder Festival 2024, now called the Oxford International Song Festival, is Cities of Song. Running from October 11 to 26, the festival will explore the profound connection between composers and the cities that inspired them. Key cities like Vienna (Schubert), Paris (Fauré), and Oxford (Haydn’s visit) will be featured. The program also includes tributes to significant anniversaries, such as Fauré, Schoenberg, and poet Lord Byron. Highlights include evening recitals from prominent artists like Roderick Williams and Christoph Prégardien, alongside themed concerts and a beloved Schubert Weekend.
You can actually explore and discover more than 4,000 songs (including previous performances) on the Oxford International Song Festival website 🔗. This collection also includes texts and translations, as well as films, videos, and animations.
Who Organises and Runs the Festival?
The festival, is organized and directed by Sholto Kynoch 🔗, a renowned pianist and artistic director. Kynoch founded the festival in 2002, and it has grown under his leadership into one of the world’s leading song festivals. The festival is managed by a small team, supported by volunteers, and operates as a registered charity, relying heavily on donations, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
Where Does the Oxford International Song Festival Take Place?
The Oxford International Song Festival takes place in a variety of historic and atmospheric venues throughout the city of Oxford.
Key locations include the stunning Holywell Music Room, the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Europe, and various Oxford University colleges, such as Wadham College and Christ Church College, which provide intimate settings for performances. Other venues include local churches and concert halls, adding to the festival’s charm by combining music with Oxford’s rich architectural heritage.
2024 Standout Performances
Here are some standout performances to look forward to at the Oxford International Song Festival 2024. These performances capture the breadth of the festival’s 2024 theme, Cities of Song, exploring how composers were influenced by the cities they lived in or visited, such as Vienna, Paris, and Oxford.
Opening Night (11 October): Featuring Haydn in Oxford, performed by Angharad Rowlands and the Doric String Quartet, followed by a concert with acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams performing Love’s Messenger.
Schubert Weekend (19-20 October): A highlight of the festival, this weekend celebrates Schubert’s works, including recitals like Schubert in 1824 and Winterreise, featuring top performers like Graham Johnson and Christopher Maltman.
Rückert Lieder (13 October): Mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly performs Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, a must-see for lovers of expressive and emotional German song, accompanied by pianist Joseph Middleton.
Album für die Frau (12 October): A performance by Carolyn Sampson and Joseph Middleton, presenting Schumann’s Album für die Frau, offers a rich experience of Romantic song.
Faure’s Paris (21 October): Baritone Stéphane Degout presents an evening devoted to Gabriel Fauré, marking the composer’s anniversary with a series of French art songs, perfect for fans of French mélodie.
Ho to Attend the 2024 Oxford International Song Festival
Tickets can be purchased online up to 2 hours before the start of a concert, or by phone at 01865 591 276, Monday through Friday between 11am and 4pm. Additionally, tickets are available for purchase at the venue just before the event.
Website: https://oxfordsong.org/ 🔗
5 Facts About the Oxford Lieder (International Song) Festival
Here are five interesting facts about the Oxford International Song Festival.
5. It's Been Running for Over 20 Years
The festival was established by pianist Sholto Kynoch, driven by a passion to create a dedicated platform for the art of classical song. Initially focused on German Lieder, it has grown in scope, attracting international artists and gaining a global reputation. The festival’s goal has always been to celebrate song as an intimate form of communication between artist, composer, and audience.
4. It Always Take Place In October
The festival takes place every year in mid-October, spanning over two weeks with a packed schedule of events. The 2024 edition will run from October 11 to 26, offering around 70 performances across various venues in Oxford. It draws music lovers from all over the world, featuring evening recitals, late-night concerts, and daytime workshops, providing a rich and immersive experience for audiences.
3. The Programming Is Themed
Every year, the festival explores a unique theme. In 2024, the theme is Cities of Song, which will explore the relationship between composers and the cities that inspired their work. Highlights include Schubert’s Vienna, Fauré’s Paris, and Haydn’s Oxford. The theme allows audiences to discover how the cultural and historical context of these cities influenced the music that emerged from them.
2. The Festival Features World-Class Artists
The festival is known for attracting some of the finest classical musicians and vocalists in the world. Regular performers include Roderick Williams, Christoph Prégardien, Carolyn Sampson, and Nicky Spence, among many others. These artists bring both expertise and passion to the festival, making it a significant event in the classical music calendar. Many of these artists participate in multiple events throughout the festival, offering audiences a chance to experience them in a variety of settings.
1. There is a Schubert Weekend!
A distinctive feature of the festival is the Schubert Weekend, which is dedicated to celebrating the works of Franz Schubert, one of the most beloved composers of Lieder. This special weekend has become a major highlight of the festival, often featuring themed concerts, lectures, and performances focused on Schubert’s life and compositions. The Schubert Weekend is deeply popular with audiences and scholars alike, continuing the festival’s dedication to this seminal composer.
Learn More About Lieder, Oxford, and Its Festivals
Oxford is rich in history, architecture, and academic tradition, making it the subject of many guidebooks that help visitors explore the city’s highlights. Here are some of my recommendations.
-
The Sheldonian Theatre: Architecture and Learning
£45.00 Get it from Amazon -
The Book of Lieder: The Original Text of Over 1000 Songs
£41.00 Get it from Amazon -
Lieder Line by Line: and Word for Word
£123.71 Get it from Amazon -
Sale!
Songs in Motion: Rhythm and Meter in the German Lied
Original price was: £51.00.£41.02Current price is: £41.02. Get it from Amazon -
Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum: A Brief History
£19.67 Get it from Amazon -
Sale!
Oxford College Gardens
Original price was: £23.20.£20.34Current price is: £20.34. Get it from Amazon -
Sale!
Oxford Aerial Map and Guide
Original price was: £14.50.£12.86Current price is: £12.86. Get it from Amazon -
Insight Guides Great Breaks Oxford
£11.29 Get it from Amazon
