CMF Artists taking part in Oxford International Song Festival

September 27, 2023

Jonathan Eyers, Harriet Burns

CMF Artists Harriet Burns and Jonathan Eyers are taking part in this year’s Oxford International Song Festival.

Harriet Burns – The Mendelssohns

The Music Both Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn wrote a plethora of sumptuous songs. This lunchtime concert, leading on from this morning’s look at manuscripts and paintings, illuminates the sometimes complex relationship between the siblings, and features some of their finest and most personal works.

The Artists Pianist Eugene Asti is well known to festival audiences as ‘a model partner, commentator and animator’ (Gramophone). He’s joined by two former Oxford Song Young Artists, soprano Harriet Burns and tenor Alessandro Fisher, both now enjoying soaring careers.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Lied zum Geburtstage meines guten Vaters
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 – 1847)
Lied zum Geburtstag des Vaters
Trad.
O dinna ask me (Scottish folksong, arr. Felix Mendelssohn)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Volkslied (1842) Op. 63 no.5
from Six Duets
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 – 1847)
Italien (1825)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Venetianisches Gondellied (1839) Op. 57 no.5 1839-1843
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 – 1847)
Suleika und Hatem (1825) Op. 8 no.12
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Allegretto in A Major (solo piano)
Die Freundin
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 – 1847)
Die Sennin
Fünf Lieder Op. 10
Nach Süden
Vorwurf
Abendbild
Im Herbste
Bergeslust
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Lied ohne Worte in E minor ‘Trauermarsch’ (solo piano) Op. 62 no.3
Sechs Lieder Op. 71
Tröstung
Frühlingslied
An die Entfernte
Schilflied
Auf der Wanderschaft
Nachtlied
Altdeutsches Frühlingslied

The Original Müllerin

22 October 2023

The Levine Building, Trinity College

Wilhelm Müller’s poems, which were set by Schubert in Die schöne Müllerin, were originally written for a performance in 1816 at the Berlin salon of Privy Councillor von Stägemann. Müller was in love with Luise Hensel, later the sister-in-law of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, and himself played the role of the rejected young miller, with music written by Ludwig Berger. Jennifer Ronyak (University of Graz) and a superb team of musicians recreate this salon in the fun and informal setting of Freud’s.

Jennifer Ronyak speaker

Karla Grant soprano

Angharad Rowlands mezzo-soprano

Jonathan Eyers baritone

Jia Ning Ng pianist

Transparencies

22 October 2023

The Levine Building, Trinity College

Backlit transparencies were a hugely popular domestic entertainment in the early years of the 19th century. Today we have a special showing of these, reflecting their original salon setting with live music. At 4.45pm, Peter Davidson (Senior Research Fellow at Campion Hall and author of The Lighted Window) will give a short talk on the history of transparencies.

Jennifer Ronyak speaker

Karla Grant soprano

Angharad Rowlands mezzo-soprano

Jonathan Eyers baritone

Jia Ning Ng pianist

Composition Workshop

18 October 2023

The Levine Building, Trinity College

Six talented student composers from the University of Oxford’s Music Faculty hear their songs performed by Oxford Song Young Artist Jonathan Eyers in a workshop setting. Feedback from the performers and from Prof. Martyn Harry offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative process.

Jonathan Eyers baritone

Thomas Eeckhout pianist