Music and Wellbeing Day: Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective - Evening concert

Friday 28 February 2025, 7.30pm
Sheldonian Theatre
button book here

Tickets from £15 to £24

STUD5 gives a 50% saving off a student ticket. Max 2 tickets at this price.

Relax on floor cushions or chairs in the round, up close to the performers, and immerse yourself in themes of dreams, hope, and spirituality.

Opening with a solo musician and growing to five across the evening, you will hear Beethoven at his most transcendent and Golijov’s klezmer-inspired clarinet quintet, The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, one of the most electrifying works of the twentieth century. Selections of Jessie Montgomery’s Musings, for two violins, bring an elegant exploration of dialogue and connection, and Kaleidoscope founder Tom Poster’s new arrangements of traditional folk melodies complete this evening’s listening journey through music that is both reflective and uplifting.

The intimate listening space, with the audience encircling the performers, transforms the way music is experienced—inviting moments of personal reflection while celebrating the audience’s shared connection. Let the visceral power and quiet solace of the performance stay with you, offering a profound and lasting connection to the music.

“a sparky, shape-shifting ensemble of starry young musicians” – The Arts Desk 

“exhilarating performances” – The Times

Please note: this event has the option for floor cushions up close to the performers but there is also plenty of standard seating options available. There will also be a pre-concert panel discussion at 6pm on the same day, entitled Thriving in the Spotlight. Free, booking required.

Presented by the Cultural Programme at Oxford University

 

PERFORMERS

Jonathan Leibovitz (clarinet) / Elena Urioste (violin) / Savitri Grier (violin) / Rosalind Ventris (viola) / Laura van der Heijden (cello)

 

PROGRAMME

SOLO 

Chinese folk song from Yunnan Province (arr. Tom Poster for solo clarinet) 

Xiǎo hé tǎng shuǐ (Flowing River) 

 

DUO 

Jessie Montgomery (b.1981) 

Musings for two violins (selections) 

      (i) Initiation Song 

      (ii) Hymn 

      (iii) Vivo 

 

TRIO 

Persian folk songs (arr. Tom Poster for two violins and viola) 

      (i) Agar yār-ī-manī 

      (ii) Bodo bodo bodo 

 

QUARTET 

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) 

‘Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der Lydischen Tonart’ (3rd movement) from String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132 

 

QUINTET

Osvaldo Golijov (b.1960) 

The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind for klezmer clarinet and string quartet 

      Prelude: Calmo, sospeso 

      (i) Agitato – Con fuoco – Maestoso – Senza misura, oscilante 

      (ii) Teneramente – Ruvido – Presto 

      (iii) Calmo, sospeso – Allegro Pesante 

      Postlude: Lento, liberamente 

 

Further Kaleidoscope Music and Wellbeing Events

Early Morning Yoga
Friday 28 February, 7.30am
Blackwell Hall, Weston Library
Start the day with a one-hour yoga flow, especially designed for musicians and performers, but open for all. Led by Elena Urioste – who is not only a violinist and co-director of Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, but is also a qualified yoga instructor. Tickets £5.

 

Thriving in the Spotlight – Panel discussion
Friday 28 February, 6pm
Sheldonian Theatre
A panel featuring members of the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective and special guest Professor Eric Clarke. Free (booking required).