FREE concert in aid of SongCycle 2016

On Saturday (30th July), a bunch of brilliant-but-mad and exhausted musicians will be riding into town as part of SongCycle 2016, a fantastic project in aid of Help Musicians UK. Anna Devin (soprano), Katie Bray (mezzo-soprano) and Sholto Kynoch (piano) will be welcoming them - and you - and showing our support with a short song recital at 5pm in the Holywell Music Room.

SONGCYCLE 2016: Renowned Scottish tenor Nicky Spence has enlisted ten colleagues to cycle over 500 miles from Glasgow to London over eight days to raise £25,000 in aid of Help Musicians UK. Throughout the journey the group will take part in a series of special events, visiting some unique musical landmarks and communities along the way.

The group sets off from Glasgow today and as they pedal into Oxford next weekend, the final stop-off before they arrive at the Coliseum in London, we'll be waiting to greet them with a lovely programme including Schumann, Grieg and Mendelssohn. It'll last just 40 minutes and is completely free, with a retiring collection. All the artists are giving their services for free so every penny raised can go towards Help Musicians UK.
 
Many of the artists taking part in SongCycle will be well known to the Oxford Lieder audience - Ailish Tynan, Mary Bevan, Louise Alder, Anna Devin, Timothy Connor, Emma Kerr, Peter Aisher, Nick Pritchard and pianist Simon Lepper. We hope you'll want to be there to greet them and enjoy some great music together.
 
You can just turn up: the recital is un-ticketed and there will be a collection at the end which will go directly to helping musicians in need. Call in at the end of your day in town, or hop on your bike (!) before your Saturday evening and join us for this excellent occasion. If you can't make it, you can also donate online here.

PROGRAMME:

Robert Schumann
Lieder der Braut I and II

Hugo Wolf
From the Italienisches Liederbuch
- Auch kleine Dinge
- Schweig einmal still
- Ich hab in Penna

Benjamin Britten
A Charm (from A Charm of Lullabies)
Funeral Blues (from Cabaret Songs)

Edvard Grieg
Sechs Lieder, op. 48

Felix Mendelssohn
From Six Duets, Op. 63
i. Ich wollt', meine Lieb' ergösse sich
iii. Gruß

Click here to watch the SongCycle team introduce the project and perform the specially composed SongCycle jingle!