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2025-2026 Season
Finzi In Terra Pax
Bruch Gruß an die heilige Nacht
Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio
Conductor Robert Secret
The Orchestra of Stowe Opera
Saturday 29 November 2025, 7:30pm
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
We celebrate Christmas this year with three lesser-known works from three very contrasting traditions. Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël (1858) is delicate and pastoral, with impressively rich instrumental colours despite the small size of the orchestra used. Gerald Finzi’s In terra pax (Peace on Earth, 1954) is as wintry as it is quintessentially English, but is filled with glimmers of light that shine through its general atmosphere of wistful nostalgia. Max Bruch’s Gruß an die heilige Nacht (Greeting to the Holy Night, 1892) uses huge chords to create a subdued, reverent atmosphere entirely appropriate to the significance of Christ’s Nativity.
Bach St Matthew Passion
Conductor Robert Secret
The Orchestra of Stowe Opera
Saturday 28 March 2026, 7:00pm (note the earlier start time)
Oxford Town Hall
J. S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion was completed in 1727 and has been widely recognized, to this day, as the greatest sacred choral work of all time. It stands as such a towering musical edifice that it cast a shadow on the entire “passion oratorio” genre until at least the time of Penderecki and Pärt in the late 20th century. Certainly, Bach’s inventive harmony, dense counterpoint and dramatic use of tone colour are striking throughout. Due to the nature of this work as a vehicle for telling the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, this performance will be sung in English.
Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem
Conductor Robert Secret
The Orchestra of Stowe Opera
Saturday 20 June 2026, 7:30pm
Oxford Town Hall
Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem, 1868) technically isn’t a requiem at all, as none of its seven movements are settings of the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead. Brahms himself wasn’t a particularly devout person, aiming instead to create a more general meditation on the human condition. The paradox, then, is that this is undeniably music of almost overwhelming spiritual power.
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Full details of all ticket prices (including concessions) are shown with the venue seating plans below. All tickets are unreserved (i.e. for anywhere within a particular seating area, not for a specific individual seat).
Where to buy tickets
Click on the Buy Tickets button for a specific concert, or phone Oxford Playhouse on 01865 305305.
Via choir members, and from 7.00pm at the venue box office.
Discounts
Wheelchair discount tickets and Group discount tickets (for groups of 10+) are not available via Tickets Oxford and must be booked via Caroline Butler.
Discounts are also available for students / under 18s via all outlets (proof of status required).
VENUES AND SEATING PLANS
Click on the map to see the venue locations.
Oxford Town Hall
Arena and back gallery £25
Side gallery £20
Wheelchair users arena £23 (includes free carer/companion)
Under 18s/students £12.50
Sheldonian Theatre
Chairs £30
Lower gallery £25
Semi-circle £20
Upper gallery £15
Wheelchair users may bring a companion/carer for free
Under 18s/students: Half price in the Semi-circle and Upper gallery only
