Thomas Adès conducts
Thomas Adès conducts
Elgar Sospiri, Op. 70
Thomas Adès Dawn
Kurtág Movement for Viola and Orchestra
Elgar Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55
Sascha Bota viola
Thomas Adès conductor
An evening of music framed by Elgar, the composer who has captured the essence of England in music more resonantly than any other. Elgar’s Sospiri is a love-sick Adagio while his Symphony No. 1 appears to carry the hopes of a troubled nation in music of deep longing and optimism. As the composer who has inherited Elgar’s mantle in England, Thomas Adès also conducts his own Dawn – an intense meditation on cycles of time, light and renewal and a masterpiece in miniature. In this concert, it forms the missing link before Kurtág’s Movement for Viola and Orchestra – a grippingly physical opening to a full concerto, the rest of which was scrapped.
The Sheldonian Theatre is a unique space to experience live music. To see an interactive map of the theatre click here.
22 Oct 2026
Tickets: £15, £30, £40, £50
(Students from £5)
Duration: 120 min
Venue: Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street
(Students from £5)
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Join the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra alongside international opera stars for the inaugural production of Oxford International Opera.
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No country’s music embodies a pastoral spirit quite like England’s. Join the Orchestra for their first symphonic concert of the season.
Learn More
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