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Jack Gibbons’ Christmas Rhapsody
16 December 2025 @ 7.15pm to 9.15pm
About Jack Gibbons’ Christmas Rhapsody
Gershwin (transcribed Gibbons): Rhapsody in Blue
Tchaikovsky (transcribed Gibbons): The Nutcracker Suite
Brahms (transcribed Busoni): Chorale Prelude, Op. 122 no.8: Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen
Tchaikovsky/Rachmaninoff: Lullaby
Leontovych (arranged Yushkevych): Shchedryk (Carol of the bells)
Gibbons: Fantasy on In Dulci Jubilo & Stille Nacht
Gibbons: Helvetia carols (selection)
plus seasonal music by
Mozart, Prokofiev, Fats Waller, Irving Berlin and others
By popular demand, the acclaimed American/British pianist Jack Gibbons returns to Oxford to give a special Christmas Rhapsody concert.
For over 40 years, Jack Gibbons has been playing in the world’s most prestigious concert halls, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, but every year returns to his favourite concert hall, Oxford’s historic Holywell Music Room.
Hailed by the BBC as “THE Gershwin pianist of our time”, Gibbons’ Christmas programme will include Gershwin’s immortal Rhapsody in Blue alongside Tchaikovsky’s magical Nutcracker Suite (in Gibbons’ spectacular piano arrangement) and many other seasonal works.
Reviews
“Jack Gibbons is a unique phenomenon in the musical world of today. Thanks to his virtuosic skills Gibbons can hold an audience in thrall. His concert-giving style is equally attractive: before his performances he talks unassumingly but with great authority from the platform, drawing the listeners into a special relationship.”
Humphrey Burton CBE
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
From £30.00
A fee of £1.50 per transaction applies to bookings for this event across all channels – website, phone and in-person bookings at the Box Office. The fee is waived for Oxford Playhouse members.
Dates & times:
Tuesday 16 December 2025 at 8.00pm
Doors open at 7.15pm
Running time:
2 hours, including an interval
About Holywell Music Room
The Holywell Music Room in Oxford is one of the oldest purpose-built concert halls in Europe and a treasured cultural landmark in the city. Situated on Holywell Street, close to the heart of the University of Oxford, it was constructed in 1748 and is celebrated for its remarkable acoustics and intimate atmosphere.
Often considered the first dedicated music venue in England, the Holywell Music Room has hosted performances for over two centuries. It has historical ties to esteemed composers like Haydn and has been a key location for classical music in the region. The building’s interior reflects the elegance of Georgian architecture, with a design that prioritises sound quality. Seating around 200 people, it provides an immersive and personal concert experience.
The venue remains an active hub for musical performances, regularly showcasing chamber music, solo recitals, and other classical events. It is used extensively by the University of Oxford and local cultural organisations. Conveniently located in central Oxford, the Holywell Music Room continues to attract music lovers and visitors who appreciate its historical and artistic significance.
Visit the venue information page for further details.
