The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Marios Papadopoulos, plays Beethoven's 'Eroica' Symphony to mark the anniversary of Beethoven's death.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra are bringing Beethoven's Eroica Symphony to The Sheldonian Theatre on Thursday 21 January 2027, starting at 19:30. It's the opening listed concert of a series marking the anniversary of Beethoven's death, and it's billed as 'the revolution in tones' — a work that would alter music forever. If you've never heard it live, it's a good place to start: the Eroica is the symphony that shifted the scale of what a symphony could be, and hearing it in the Sheldonian puts you right in the middle of that sound.
The performance is part of the orchestra's Beethoven Cycle, which runs across their 2026/27 season. That cycle is led by Music Director Marios Papadopoulos, who founded the orchestra back in 1998, so he's been at the helm since the beginning. The Eroica kicks off the anniversary programming, and there will be more Beethoven to follow throughout the season.
It's a busy year for the orchestra, and this is just one part of it. The season also includes the Oxford International Opera debut of Puccini's Tosca at New Theatre Oxford, with Sir Bryn Terfel, Carmen Giannattasio, and Saimir Pirgu in the lead roles. Beyond the city, they're taking the orchestra on tour to London, New York, Rome, Berlin, Athens, and Istanbul, so the Beethoven Cycle sits alongside a fair bit of international travel.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Oxford and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
So, the Eroica is on Thursday 21 January 2027 at The Sheldonian Theatre, starting at 19:30. It's the first listed concert of the anniversary programming, and it's the start of the orchestra's Beethoven Cycle for the season.
