Roderick Williams: Love's Minstrels
14 October 2026, 7:30pm - 9:20pm
Presented in association with Schwarzman Centre.
Roderick Williams' appearances at Oxford International Song Festival are always eagerly anticipated and this recital is sure to be a highlight of the year. The typically inventive programme tells stories of courtly love across the ages. It ranges from the medieval pen of Guillaume de Machaut, expressing his love and fidelity, via the Romantic poetry of Eichendorff with its evocations of ruined castles and mystic knights, to the beauty of 20th-century songs from England and Ireland by the likes of Ina Boyle and Ralph Vaughan Williams. A beautifully crafted programme from this master musician.
Emerging Artists
At the start of this evening's concert, and at most of our evening concerts in the first week of the Festival, one of our eight exceptional Young Artist duos will give a 15-minute showcase performance. These emerging professionals are the stars of the future, and can also be heard during the Mastercourse later in the Festival.
Please note there will be a short 5 minute break during this event, and a 20 minute interval. The bar will be open during the interval.
Programme
Emerging Artists
- Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904)
- Struna naladěna, 'Take your bow' (1880) Op. 55 from Cigánské Melodie (Gypsy Songs)
- Mykola Vitaliyovych Lysenko (1842 - 1912)
- When We Were Cossacks
- Bohdana Filtz (1932 - 2021)
- Oj po hori roman cvite 'Along a hillside camomile is blooming'
- Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904)
- Dobrú noc 'Good night' Op. 73 from V národním tónu
Principal Artists
- Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958)
- The splendour falls (1905)
- Joan Trimble (1915 - 2000)
- Green Rain
- Muriel Herbert (1897 - 1984)
- So by my singing am I comforted
- Ina Boyle (1889 - 1967)
- Song of Enchantment
- Nicholas Marshall (1942)
- La Belle Dame sans Merci
- Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958)
- Love's Minstrels (1903) from The House of Life
*****
- Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869)
- Tom der Reimer (1860)
- Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)
- Waldesgespräch (1840) Op. 39 no.3 1–20.v & 22.vi.1840 from Liederkreis
- Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896)
- Lorelei (1843)
- Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)
- Auf einer Burg (1840) Op. 39 no.7 1–20.v & 22.vi.1840 from Liederkreis
- Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903)
- Der Sänger (1891) D149 from Goethe-Lieder
*****
- Guillaume de Machaut (1300 - 1377)
- Foy porter
- Arthur Honegger (1892 - 1955)
- Saluste du Bartas
- Mel (Mélanie) Bonis (1858 - 1937)
- Chanson d’amour Op. 94
- Songe Op. 91 no. 3
- Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
- Chanson d’Orkenise (1940) FP 107 no.1 from Banalités
- Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937)
- Don Quichotte à Dulcinée (1932)
