Oxford May Music Day 1 – “Vive l’Empereur!”
5.30-6.30 pm
The Beating Heart
Professor Robin Chaudhury, University of Oxford
A cultural detective trail to find out how and why we have come to see the heart as we do. The story uncovers beautiful heart images that illuminate the age-old dance between art, religion, philosophy and ‘scientific’ thinking. Across time, we meet saints, artists, lovers, scholars and eventually scientists who unwittingly influence each other, in approaching and building an understanding of the beating heart.
Professor Chaudhury is a practising cardiologist and a professor of cardiovascular medicine.
8.00-10.30 pm
Concert 1 – “Vive l’Empereur!”
R. Glière Octet in G Major, Op.5
F. Schubert
Die Befreier Europa’s in Paris, D.104
Einsamkeit (from Winterreise), D.911
Die Liebe hat gelogen, D.751
Nacht und Traüme, D.827
Die Allmacht, D.852
Interval
Schoenberg Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, Op.41
Brahms Three Intermezzi, Op.117
Crabb Scottish Traditional Folk Music
Performers
A. Aldren, tenor; J. Liebeck, violin; A. Raikhlina, violin; T. Berman, violin; J. Schad, violin; B. Roskams, viola; L. Anderson, viola; D. Djordjevic, cello; A. Brendel, cello; S. Watton, double bass; K. Chong, piano; D. Driver, piano; J. Crabb, accordion.
We begin the festival with a partially themed concert highlighting Napoleon. Following a beautiful Octet for Strings by Glière, Alex Aldren sings Schubert’s celebration of the overthrow of Napoleon and the entry into Paris by the Russian, Prussian and Austrian armies. There follow other songs, selected to imagine Napoleon in exile on the island of Elba, moving through loneliness, the loss of his wife, acceptance and then defiance as he plans his escape and return to power.
After the interval Schoenberg’s remarkable ‘Ode’ will cleanse your musical palate before we end with the return of one of Schoenberg’s idols, Brahms, and a rousing send off with some Scottish jigs, Strathspeys and reels from our returning accordionist in residence, James Crabb.
