Corsican ensemble, Spartimu – Oxford, workshop + concert

Coming to tour the UK during October 2025, Spartimu are an internationally renowned Corsican group, dedicated to teaching and performing ‘cantu in paghjella’ – the UNESCO listed distinctive, highly ornamented and improvisational traditional polyphony of Corsica.

As well as concerts this UK tour will feature workshops both of larger ensemble songs and of paghjellas. So whatever your level of knowledge and experience as a singer, there will be something here for you.

Whilst deeply rooted in their research and practice of Corsican songs, the Spartimu’s projects also take in the repertoires of several other countries. The encounters they create between music, repertoires and practices that are at first glance very distant have become a trademark of the ensemble, and give an ever changing and endlessly interesting and surprising experience for their audience.

The ensemble has performed in Sardinia, Lithuania, Georgia, Chicago and Melbourne (Australia), and been recorded and documented by the US Library of Congress, as well as providing original music for the recent Ridley Scott film, Napoleon, and being featured in an upcoming episode of the BBC TV series Great Railway Journeys.

"I have been so fortunate to work with Frederic Vesperini and Spartimu for several years and can not recommend them highly enough."
Karla Mundy, Director, SongRoots, Vancouver BC

"Spartimu bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to their encounters with audiences and workshop participants as they take them on a fascinating journey into Corsica's captivating musical heritage."
Professor Caroline Bithell, Professor of Ethnomusicology, University of Manchester

"A real sense of culture and place."
"This was a very special night. Absolutely beautiful music. Those notes were ringing."
"An awesome evening of entertainment. Not to be missed!"
Audience members, Melbourne, Australia

Residential workshop weekend and other tour dates
This workshop and concert is part of a UK wide tour. The centrepiece of the tour will be a residential weekend in the magnificent setting of Milton Abbey School in Dorset, open to anyone who is interested to explore Corsican polyphony in greater depth.

For full details of this and links to all tour dates throughout the UK, go to the main tour page here.

Workshop + Concert, Oxford, 22 October

 Ticket prices 

We work hard to keep all of our events accessible to as many people as possible, while still adequately compensating our expert music leaders. To that end we are offering a choice of three price bands to suit your means, plus a youth rate. In choosing the appropriate price band, we suggest the following guide:

Supporter: If you can comfortably afford to pay your bills, and more than one or two main holidays each year, please consider paying the supporter rate, which will help us to offer lower cost tickets to those who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Standard: If you can pay all your bills, but don't have a lot of disposable income for discretionary spend, the standard ticket price may be right for you.

Concessionary: For anyone on a low income, in receipt of income based benefits, or who would struggle to pay the standard rate.

Youth: 14-21 years. (Under 14 free with a responsible adult)

Workshop only £20/15/10/8
Concert only £20/15/10/8
Combined £35/28/18/14
Online booking is preferred, but tickets will also be available on the door, cash or card.

As always, if you are keen to attend but cost is a barrier for you, please contact us directly. We would never want to turn anyone away on grounds of cost.

 Timings 

Workshop 18.00-19.30 (doors open at 17.30)
Concert 20.00-21.30 (doors open at 19.30)

 Cancellation and refunds 

Covid
If you have symptoms consistent with covid or any other respiratory illness, or have been in close contact with someone with covid shortly before the event, please take a LFT in the 24 hours before attending. Anyone showing a positive result should not attend. A full refund will be given.

Exchange or refund
If you cannot attend, you are welcome to pass your ticket on to someone else. This should be at or below face value. Refunds for reasons other than communicable illness are at the organiser's discretion.

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