Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals; Metamorphic Variations (compl

$21.99
Label
Chandos
Release Date
October 17, 2025
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Arthur Bliss
    • PERFORMER
      BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 17, 2025
    • UPC
      0095115537022
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      CHSA 5370
    • LABEL
      Chandos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Overture -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    2. II. The Street -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    3. III. The Girl Suicide -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    4. IV. The Young Lovers -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    5. V. The Prostitute and the Boy -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    6. VI. The Official -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    7. VII. Discovery of the Suicide's Body -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    8. VIII. The Suicide's Body is Brought in -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    9. IX. The Stranger -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    10. X. Dance of Deliverance -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    11. XI. The Official and the Prostitute -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    12. XII. Intermezzo -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    13. XIII. The Slander Campaign -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    14. XIV. The Conversion of the Prostitute -

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    15. XV. Finale: The Killing of the Stranger

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    16. Variation 1: Elements

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    17. Variation 2: Ballet

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    18. Variation 3: Assertion

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    19. Contrasts

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    20. Children's March

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    21. Variation 4: Speculation

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    22. Variation 5: Interjections

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    23. Variation 6: Scherzo I

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    24. Variation 7: Contemplation

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    25. Variation 8: Polonaise

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    26. Variation 9: Funeral Processions

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    27. Variation 10: Cool Interlude

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    28. Variation 11: Scherzo II

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    29. Variation 12: Duet

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    30. Variation 13: Dedicated to G.D. and A.D.

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal

    31. Variation 14: Affirmation

      Composer: Arthur Bliss

      Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conductor: Michael Seal


Perhaps now overshadowed by his earlier ballet Checkmate, Miracle in the Gorbals was a tremendous hit for Bliss and the Sadlers Wells Ballet company. First performed in 1944, it was repeated in every season through to 1950. Based on a scenario by Michael Benthall (inspired by Jerome and Dostoyevsky), the ballet features the appearance of a Christ-like figure amid Glasgow's most infamous slum. This mysterious Stranger performs a miracle, reviving the Girl Suicide, who in despair had earlier thrown herself into the Clyde. The locals rejoice, but an Official (Benthall had in mind a priest) is jealous and, after a failed attempt to cast doubt on the virtue of the Stranger via the local Prostitute, has him slashed to death by a razor gang. Bliss's score employs a wide range of styles and harmonic language, and also exploits Leitmotifs for the principal characters. Originally titled Variations for Orchestra, Bliss' Metamorphic Variations was composed towards the end of his life, during a late surge of creativity. Two of the 16 movements were dropped at the first performance (given by the LSO and Vernon Handley in 1973) and for some reason were not re-instated at any of the work's later performances until that given by Michael Seal and the BBC Philharmonic in February 2025, the day before they made this recording.