Theatre

SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

Oxford Playhouse

November 11-16

Box office: 01865 305305 or oxfordplayhouse.com

Oxford Operatic Society returns to the Playhouse stage with one of Stephen Sondheim’s most critically acclaimed scores, guaranteed to have you laughing one moment and recoiling in shock the next. This black comedy follows the infamous Sweeney Todd, the unjustly exiled barber who returns to London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who coveted his young wife and falsely imprisoned him. Sweeney’s thirst for blood spills over to his unfortunate customers. With the aid of his razor he exacts terrible revenge, cheerfully helped by Mrs Lovett, who is delighted to give new life to her flavourless meat pies! Sophisticated, macabre and visceral, Sweeney Todd mixes intense drama with dark humour.

Music

ANN-SOPHIE MUTTER AND OXFORD PHILOMUSICA

Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

Wednesday, December 4, at 8pm

Box office: 01865 980980

Violin legend Anne-Sophie Mutter joins up with the city’s premier orchestra for an inspiring concert featuring Dvorak’s Violin Concerto in A minor. The soloist’s pulling power was summed up by the LA Times: “In the galaxy of international violin stars Anne-Sophie Mutter represents a rare comet. The opportunity to see her play locally is something like a celestial event.” The Dvorak concerto is a brilliant and beguiling work. The concert begins with Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, ‘Fingal’s Cave’, and Shubert’s radiant Symphony No 5 in B flat major, setting the tone for a dazzling evening. Anne-Sophie Mutter is giving a masterclass at the Sheldonian on the morning of the concert between 10 and 11am, for which tickets are available at £10 and £15.

Pop music

TEXAS

New Theatre, Oxford n Sunday, November 17, at 7pm

Box office: 0844 871 3020 or atgtickets.com/oxford

In their 25th anniversary year Texas released their new studio album The Conversation earlier in the year and embark next month on a full UK tour including a headline London show at Hammersmith Apollo on November 14. Texas have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. This return reintroduces the band afresh with tracks written and produced by singer/guitarist Sharleen Spiteri and bassist Johnny McElhone and featuring collaborations with singer-songwriter Richard Hawley and Bernard Butler.