Mozart Requiem Under Christopher Wren's Dome at the Sheldonian

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Hearing Mozart's final, unfinished masterpiece within the circular embrace of Christopher Wren's 17th-century Sheldonian Theatre remains one of Oxford's most arresting cultural traditions. For this landmark autumn concert, Oxford Harmonic Choir: Mozart Requiem & Hummel Mass in B-flat Oxford brings together the acclaimed local chorus, The Orchestra of Stowe Opera, and an exceptional quartet of soloists under the baton of Robert Secret. Paired with Johann Nepomuk Hummel's radiant Classical-era Mass in B-flat, the evening promises an extraordinary display of choral power and intimate acoustic grandeur in the city's ceremonial heart.

Thunderous Choirs and Soaring Classical Elegance

The atmosphere inside the Sheldonian on concert nights is unmistakable: polished oak benches, the sweeping painted canvas of Truth descending from the ceiling, and the crisp autumn air drifting through the Broad Street entrance before the doors seal. When the first dark, measured bars of Mozart's Introitus rise from the orchestra, the space contracts into complete stillness. You will feel the gut-punch rumble of the timpani and the spine-tingling terror of the Dies Irae, contrasted with the aching, hushed beauty of the Lacrimosa. By balancing Mozart's brooding drama against Hummel's lively, sun-drenched Mass in B-flat, soprano Nazan Fikret, mezzo-soprano Felicity Buckland, tenor Robyn Lyn Evans, and bass Richard Wiegold navigate an emotional spectrum that leaves the hall breathless.

A Gathering of Voices in Christopher Wren's Masterpiece

Oxford Harmonic Choir draws together scores of dedicated vocalists whose commitment reverberates in every bar of this challenging repertoire. The audience here is an eclectic blend of passionate classical connoisseurs, University academics, and curious weekend visitors eager to sample Oxford's choral heritage at its most authentic. There is a palpable sense of shared communion as hundreds of listeners pack the steep wooden tiers, all leaning in to catch the delicate resolution of a solo phrase before joining together in thunderous applause that echoes around the theatre's upper galleries.

Know Before You Go

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early to clear ticket checks and navigate the steep staircases up to the galleries.
• The Sheldonian features traditional, unpadded wooden benches; bringing a small travel cushion makes a noticeable difference to your comfort during a two-and-a-half-hour performance.
• Gallery sightlines vary considerably due to the historic timber pillars and semi-circular layout, so consult the seating plan carefully when booking.
• Tickets start from £15 via Tickets Oxford, with full programme notes available directly from the Oxford Harmonic Choir.
• Central Oxford parking is extremely limited; use the Pear Tree or Redbridge Park and Ride buses, which drop you within easy walking distance of Broad Street.

Make a Weekend of It

Attending a performance at the Sheldonian Theatre places you right at the architectural epicentre of Oxford. Before the music begins, spend a quiet afternoon soaking in three millennia of antiquities and art across the galleries of the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology on nearby Beaumont Street, or wander among the soaring neo-Gothic arches of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. When hunger strikes, warm up with a hearty pre-concert meal or seasonal ale at The Red Lion, tucked just minutes away on Gloucester Street. To turn your concert trip into an indulgent autumn getaway, check into The Randolph Hotel Oxford, a Graduate by Hilton directly opposite the Ashmolean, or enjoy boutique luxury and sweeping city views at the Old Bank Hotel along the historic High Street.

Alyssa for What's On Oxford