Nicola Lisle presents her weekly pick of Oxford's classical concerts

  • Matthew Barley, Cello
  • AROUND BRITTEN
  • Holywell Music Room, Oxford
  • Tonight (Fri), 7.30pm
  • Tickets: 01865 305305 or ticketsoxford.com

Outstanding cellist Matthew Barley comes to Oxford as part of his 100-date tour of the UK celebrating the Britten centenary. The programme represents the cycle of the soul, from pre-existence to the afterlife, and includes Britten’s Third Suite for Cello alongside works by Bach, Macmillan and others.

  • Oxford Harmonic Society
  • CHRISTMAS CONCERT
  • Oxford Town Hall
  • Saturday, 7.30pm
  • Tickets: 01865 305305 or ticketsoxford.com

A lovely selection of seasonal music by this long-running choir, including Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Charpentier Messe de Minuit pour Noël, Monteverdi Beatus Vir and Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine. With the Orchestra of Stowe Opera, conducted by Robert Secret.

  • Oxford Pro Musica Singers
  • MICHAEL SMEDLEY FAREWELL CONCERT
  • St Margaret’s Church, Oxford
  • Saturday, 7.30pm
  • Tickets on the door

After 36 years, Oxford Pro Musica Singers’ founder and director Michael Smedley is hanging up his baton. This concert is a suitable fond farewell with a selection of choir favourites, including Byrd Sing Joyfully, Handel The King Shall Rejoice, Finzi Lo the full final sacrifice and more.

  • Oxford Philomusica
  • BEETHOVEN VI
  • Sheldonian Theatre
  • Saturday, 8pm
  • Tickets: 01865 980980 or oxfordphil.com

Beethoven’s sparkling Symphony No.2 and the glorious No.9, the ‘Choral’, bring the Philomusica’s 15th anniversary celebrations to a stirring finale under the baton of Marios Papadopou-los. Also this week: recitals by violinists Maxim Vengerov and Anne-Sophie Mutter — see website for details.

  • Opera Anywhere
  • AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
  • Norrington Room, Blackwell’s Bookshop
  • Tuesday, 7.30pm
  • Tickets: 0844 8700 887 or operanywhere.com

Come and enjoy Menotti’s heart-warming opera in this lovely intimate setting; the perfect pre-Christmas treat for the whole family. Also included are Edwardian composer Liza Lehmann’s settings of Hilaire Belloc’s cautionary tales and Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poems.

Further dates throughout December; check the website for details.