Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Le Quattro Staggioni (The Four Seasons, Op.8 1-4)
Astor Piazzolla 1921-1992): Las cuatro estaciones porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires)

Corona Baroque Strings/Corona Strings
Janet Lincé, Conductor
David Le Page, Violin

Conductor Janet Lincé presents two contrasting perspectives on the four seasons; by composers Vivaldi and Piazzolla, in an inventive concert programme featuring the specialist period instrument players of her acclaimed Oxford-based Corona Strings and celebrated violin soloist David Le Page, at St John the Evangelist (SJE), Iffley Road on Saturday 24th February 2018.

Heralding Spring 2018, Corona Strings’ show-stopping programme juxtaposes performances of Vivaldi’s famously spirited Baroque masterpiece, ‘The Four Seasons’, with Piazzolla’s own individual take on the subject – the ‘Four Seasons of Buenos Aires’.

Four soloists from Corona Baroque Ensemble will take centre stage in a period instrument performance of Vivaldi’s famous suite, under leader Miranda Walton. The same players then change instruments to be joined by the full Corona Strings ensemble under their leader, Catherine Leach, and by violin soloist, David le Page, to perform Piazzolla’s colourful and rhythmic interpretation of the same name.

Known for his eclectic approach to performing, le Page appears regularly as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader and has formed a number of his own groups. He is leader of the Stratford-upon-Avon based Orchestra of the Swan and appears regularly at SJE.

“Within Corona Strings we have a strong group of Baroque players who will be performing Vivaldi on authentic instruments”, explained conductor, Janet Lincé, “thereby giving our audience an even broader contrast with Piazzolla's great response to the same theme.”

“We aim to offer a platform for exciting soloists”, she added, “and are especially delighted that violin soloist, David Le Page, who will be familiar to audiences at SJE from his many fine performances there, will be joining us for this programme.”

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) composed his Four Seasons between 1965 and 1970, originally for an unusual combination of violin, piano, electric guitar, double bass and bandoneon. Combining Jazz, and Tango from his native Argentina, and fusing it with Classical and 20th Century influences, listeners will recognise the composer quoting directly from Vivaldi’s work of the same name.

St John’s Church, Iffley Road, Oxford provides a warm and comfortable venue with a superb acoustic for these vibrant and atmospheric works.

St Hilda's finalist Hannah Merchant (cello) returns to the lunchtime recital stage to perform works by Beethoven, Suk and Prokofiev.

Programme:

Beethoven - Sonata in D op.102/2 (1st Movement)
Joseph Suk - Ballade op. 3
Prokofiev - Cello Sonata in C major op. 19

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Curated by Dr Jonathan Williams, the Director of College Music at St Hilda's, the popular Lunchtime Recital Series offers weekly concerts performed by members of College, students from across the University, and professional musicians.

A 17 piece Latin orchestra play a selection of classic salsa, mambo and cha cha cha. Joe Longridge’s orchestra includes players such as Roberto Pla, Eplidio Alegria, Indira Roman and Michel Padron. Playing music by Tito Puente, Bebo Valdes and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

The band played there premier performance one year ago at the Southbank Club Bristol, it was a complete sell out! They are now due to headline the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival at Bristol’s Colston Hall this March.

From swooning sax’s to electric trumpets, this band have a gigantic sound, and this is a unique opportunity to see them in a comparatively intimate setting.

The Chris Ronald Trio from Canada comprises CFMA-nominated singer-songwriter Chris Ronald, BCCMA award-winning musician John Ellis, and CCMA "Fiddle Player of the Year" Mike Sanyshyn. Influenced by countless British and North American artists of the 60s onward, Ronald’s music has been described as “Canadian folk with British roots,” and The Province likened it to “the country and folk that came out of Laurel Canyon and the British Isles in the mid-seventies.”
Now living in Vancouver, Canada, contemporary folk singer-songwriter Chris Ronald emigrated from his native England in 2002. Ronald first got hooked on songwriting at age 15 when he put to music a poem he wrote in high school, but he only started to go public in his thirties after moving to Canada and self-producing his first two albums. In 2014, Ronald made a breakthrough with his third album, Timeline, which gained him a nomination for ‘Songwriter of the Year’ at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and a place in the finals of the renowned Kerrville New Folk contest in Texas.

In live performance, Ronald draws on his abilities as a skilled singer, storyteller and musician. An accomplished soloist, he also tours as a trio. John Ellis and Mike Sanyshyn feature on Ronald’s latest album, Fragments, which was released on esteemed Canadian folk label Borealis Records.

http://www.chrisronald.com/

https://www.sianmagill.co.uk/

“There are those among us who just have to play and sing; to whom there can be no question of quitting; to whom their work is not a job, but a calling. Julie Felix is one such musician.” Steve Harley
What began for little Julie as simple home entertainment, as her father and his friends played Mariachi music into the small hours of the morning, has actually been this remarkable woman’s profession for nearly 50 years.
In 1964 Julie arrived in England after leaving California and became the first solo folk artist to be signed to a major British record company when she signed with Decca. In 1966 Julie became the resident singer on the amazingly popular TV programme “The Frost Report”, and quickly became a household name. She went on to appear in her own TV series on BBC1 and BBC2 and recorded hit singles on Mickey Most’s RAK label. After a break from the music world in the 1980’s, Julie began singing for Latin American Refugees, for woman’s and gay rights and for peace projects including protests against the war in the Gulf. Julie created the Remarkable Records label and released ‘Bright Shadows’, her first album for 10 years. In October 2013 she was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla.
https://www.juliefelix.co.uk/
http://www.benjaminwilliampike.co.uk/hom...

Oxford Radcliffe Orchestra
Conductor: George Caird
Saturday 10th March 2018 at 7.45pm

Concert in aid of Bridewell Gardens
Tingewick Hall, Academic Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU

Programme
Verdi - Overture to the Force of Destiny
Strauss - Horn Concerto No.1 (soloist: John James)
Elgar - Symphony No.1

The Oxford Radcliffe Orchestra gives concerts 3 times a year in aid of medical charities. The orchestra is made up of talented and enthusiastic musicians from the staff of the Oxford Health Services with a professional conductor and soloist.

Bridewell Gardens is a therapeutic horticulture project that provides a recovery service through land-based activities for people with mental health issues. It is set in rolling countryside near Wilcote, between North Leigh and Finstock (OX7 3DT). Our goal is to help people into employment or voluntary roles in the community.
Bridewell is the West Oxfordshire Business Awards Charity of the Year 2018. In making their decision the judges said that Bridewell is “A truly inspirational organisation that has a profound impact on the people that it supports”.