<img src='' title='Event Category: Concerts' alt='' id='templ_icon_' width='' height='' /> Event Category: Concerts

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and Mahan Esfahani: Baroque Masterpieces

Join the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and acclaimed harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani for a Baroque celebration with music by Handel, Vivaldi, and the Bach family in all their glory.

An evening of Baroque mastery awaits as the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes celebrated harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani. From the lyrical warmth of Handel’s Trio Sonata to the spirited finale of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, this concert features rhythmic drive, dialogue, and elegance. A perfect concert for both Baroque enthusiasts and new listeners alike.

 

Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal de Versailles and Franco Fagioli

Join us for a rare and thrilling journey back to the golden age of the castrati — male singers celebrated for a unique vocal power and range that combined the high notes of a boy with the lung power of a man.

The era’s last great singer was Giovanni Battista Velluti (1780-1861), for whom composers such as Rossini wrote some of their most successful operas.

In this performance, the magnificent music written for Velluti is brought back to life by Franco Fagioli, one of the best countertenors of our own time. Accompanied by the superb Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal of the Palace of Versailles, Fagioli brings to life the expressive power, agility, and rich ornamentation of the castrati, reviving the very style that transformed early 19th-century opera seria.

Nikita Lukinov (piano)

Discover the charm of Prokofiev’s Cinderella, the dark enchantment of Mussorgsky’s Night on a Bald Mountain, and the radiant beauty of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. Nikita’s hands will cast magic spells that will transport you to a place where fairytale wonder and supernatural mystery blend into something truly magical.

 

Mozart Requiem by Candlelight

Journey through the profound beauty of classical sacred music with Mozart’s deeply moving Requiem at the heart of this programme.

Paired with his serene Ave verum corpus and Sancta Maria, and Haydn’s powerful Insanae et Vanae Curae, this concert offers a rich tapestry of devotion, drama, and reflection.

 

Mozart Concertos by Candlelight

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Mozart by candlelight.

This intimate concert features the Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, and the radiant Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, performed in a warmly lit setting that evokes the elegance of Mozart’s era. A magical evening of classical music, atmosphere, and artistry.

The concerts are performed in an arrangement by Ignaz Lachner for piano and string ensemble.

 

Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras: Haydn in London

The present church of St Martin-in-the-Fields – Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras’ London home – celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2026.

The English Baroque Soloists with Peter Whelan, and renowned cellist Christophe Coin, mark this milestone with a programme of music written and first performed within a stone’s throw of this wondrous building, by the “Father of the Symphony”, Franz Joseph Haydn and his contemporary Johann Christian Bach.

With the death of his patron, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, in 1790 Haydn became a free agent, and Johann Peter Salomon seized the opportunity to bring Europe’s most famous composer to Soho. Haydn’s music already dominated the fashionable Hanover Square Rooms – especially after the death of the London-based Johann Christian Bach (youngest son of J.S.), whose Symphony in G minor opens the second half. Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 was premiered at Hanover Square 1784, and a decade later he embarked on his second trip to London. From this come two of his best-known symphonies, earning nicknames through their popularity: the “Military” (No. 100), and the “London” (No. 104).

The English Baroque Soloists have this music in their blood, and the period instruments of the orchestra cast these works in an entirely fresh light. Historically-informed performance specialist Peter Whelan returns to the helm after a “thrilling” (The Times), “dazzling” (The Observer) and “unbeatable” (Scherzo) debut in 2024.

This concert is part of our 300th anniversary celebrations.

Pre-concert talk
St Martin’s Hall
6:45pm – 7:15pm

Before the concert, join conductor Peter Whelan and historian Katherine Alcock for a fascinating pre-concert talk in St Martin’s Hall from 6.45pm – 7.15pm. Step back into Georgian London as they explore Joseph Haydn’s time in the city, the rich musical life of 18th-century England, and the remarkable 300-year history of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Discover how London shaped Haydn and his music in this insightful introduction to the evening’s performance.

Rustam Khanmurzin (piano)

We regret that Matan Porat is unable to be here to give today’s lunchtime concert, because bad weather has severely disrupted flights from Berlin. We are very grateful to the talented young pianist Rustam Khanmurzin for stepping in at short notice.

Rustam Khanmurzin programme: 

Wagner-Liszt Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde

Beethoven Sonata in E major, Op 109

  1. Vivace ma non  troppo – Adagio espressivo
  2. Prestissimo
  3. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo

Ravel La valse

Rustam Khanmurzin is a rising pianist who is gaining recognition as both a soloist and collaborative artist across Eurasia. He was previously a Junior Fellow at the Royal College of Music, and in July 2025 he was elected a Freeman of the Musicians’ Company of the City of London.

Rustam has performed at major international festivals, including the El Lied Festival Victoria de los Ángeles, MusicFest Perugia, Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise, Rheingau Musik Festival, Oxford Song Festival, St Endellion Festival in Cornwall. He has appeared on Radio France Musique and released two CDs with the Melodiya label. As a soloist, he has worked with several orchestras, such as The Elgar Sinfonia of London, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea, and the Karaganda Philharmonic Orchestra in Kazakhstan.

He won 1st Prize at the Royal College of Music Concerto Competition, and also received prizes at the Paul Badura-Skoda International Piano Competition in Vienna, the CLAMO International Piano Competition in Murcia, Spain, and Asia-Pacific F. Chopin Piano Competition in Daegu, South Korea.

Londinium Consort

In a programme featuring music from the reign of both Queen Elizabeths the Londinium Consort present a wealth of traditional music from the 16th and early 17th centuries in a new light, in new arrangements which blur the boundaries between new and old.

 

Immy Churchill (Jazz Vocals)

Immy Churchill is a singer-songwriter, folk singer and jazz vocalist acclaimed as one of London’s ‘rising stars’.

As a CMF 2025 Artist and finalist in the Tina May Young Jazz Musician Competition 2025, Immy is no stranger to performing with a vast experience of touring in the UK and Europe. Song interpretation and text is at the heart of every performance, with echoes of Joni Mitchell, June Tabor, Olivia Chaney and Nick Drake in her own writing and sound. Immy invites you to an afternoon of acoustic storytelling. She will be drawing upon a selection of songs from great singer-songwriters of the 60s and 70s as well as traditional folk tales and songs of her own. For lovers of “Fire and Rain” and “A Case Of You”, this concert is not one to miss.