Oxford Philomusica

Martyn Harry Galgenhumoreske (World premiere) 
Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 16 
Carl Orff Carmina Burana

Benjamin Grosvenor piano
Elena Xanthoudakis soprano
Robert Davies baritone
Tom Verney countertenor
London Symphony Chorus
New London Children's Choir
Marios Papadopoulos conductor

Watch Benjamin Grosvenor perform Brahms' Hungarian Dance No 5 at last years BBC Proms



Oxford’s acclaimed professional symphony orchestra is delighted to be making its first appearance at the Barbican since 1998.

Opening the concert is the world premiere of a work by the contemporary classical composer Martyn Harry, who is based at Oxford University where Oxford Philomusica has been Orchestra In Residence since 2002.

The Philomusica has a rich history of collaborations with world-class pianists, particularly through its highly successful annual International Piano Festival and Summer Academy, and here the outstandingly talented young pianist Benjamin Grosvenor will join the Orchestra for Grieg’s enchanting Piano Concerto.

The programme will conclude with Carl Orff’s famous scenic cantata Carmina Burana, opening with the gloriously dramatic ‘O Fortuna’ sung by the London Symphony Chorus. This large-scale performance, also featuring internationally renowned soloists, soprano Elena Xanthoudakis and baritone Robert Davies, promises a musically varied, thrilling and exuberant close to the evening.

'Grosvenor’s performance was so alluring, so alive to the music’s poetry, so colourfully detailed.'
The Daily Telegraph

'Oxford Philomusica contains glorious individual players....' The Times

'An excellent orchestra.' Gramophone

Benjamin Grosvenor has recently been awarded a Critics’ Circle Exceptional Young Artist Award, and he will be presented with this during this concert on Tuesday 12 June. The Critics’ Circle Music Awards are given by consensus of opinion of the 76 members of the Music Section of the Critics’ Circle on the strength of the special impression that the artists make in the UK both through live performances and recordings.