British cellist Steven Isserlis plays Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 and Alexey Shor's 'Musical Pilgrimage' with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra.
Steven Isserlis is playing at the Sheldonian Theatre on Thursday 3 June 2027, with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dionysis Grammenos. It's a cello-heavy programme that puts Isserlis right at the centre of the first two halves, before the orchestra takes over for the finale.
He opens with Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107, a piece known for its intensity and the way it pushes the cello to the front. That's followed by Alexey Shor's Cello Concerto No. 1 'Musical Pilgrimage', so the first two-thirds of the night are built around the cello. The evening closes with Brahms' Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, which shifts the focus to the full orchestra.
Isserlis is a British cellist with an award-winning repertoire that stretches from Bach, Beethoven and Brahms through to contemporary work, and he's as comfortable with the Baroque as he is with the modern. He works as a soloist, chamber musician, author, educator and broadcaster, so he's a familiar name across a few different musical worlds. The Sheldonian is described as a unique space in which to experience live music, and this programme gives you two distinct cello concertos in one sitting.
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
The concert starts at 19:00 and runs for about two hours. Tickets are £18, £30, £32, £42 and £58, with student tickets from £5.
