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Chandos

Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals; Metamorphic Variations (compl

Modern Dramatic Virtuosic Triumphant Energetic
$21.99

Details

Composer
Arthur Bliss
Artist
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Format
SACD
Label
Chandos
Released
Oct 17, 2025
Catalog #
CHSA 5370
UPC
0095115537022

About

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.

Tracklist 31 tracks

  1. 1 I. Overture - 02:43
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Overture -
    Duration
    02:43
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  2. 2 II. The Street - 02:28
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. The Street -
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  3. 3 III. The Girl Suicide - 02:47
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. The Girl Suicide -
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  4. 4 IV. The Young Lovers - 01:33
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. The Young Lovers -
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  5. 5 V. The Prostitute and the Boy - 00:57
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. The Prostitute and the Boy -
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  6. 6 VI. The Official - 00:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. The Official -
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  7. 7 VII. Discovery of the Suicide's Body - 01:27
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Discovery of the Suicide's Body -
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  8. 8 VIII. The Suicide's Body is Brought in - 02:22
    Track
    8
    Title
    VIII. The Suicide's Body is Brought in -
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  9. 9 IX. The Stranger - 03:03
    Track
    9
    Title
    IX. The Stranger -
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  10. 10 X. Dance of Deliverance - 03:57
    Track
    10
    Title
    X. Dance of Deliverance -
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  11. 11 XI. The Official and the Prostitute - 01:50
    Track
    11
    Title
    XI. The Official and the Prostitute -
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  12. 12 XII. Intermezzo - 04:49
    Track
    12
    Title
    XII. Intermezzo -
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  13. 13 XIII. The Slander Campaign - 01:34
    Track
    13
    Title
    XIII. The Slander Campaign -
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  14. 14 XIV. The Conversion of the Prostitute - 01:56
    Track
    14
    Title
    XIV. The Conversion of the Prostitute -
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  15. 15 XV. Finale: The Killing of the Stranger 04:17
    Track
    15
    Title
    XV. Finale: The Killing of the Stranger
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  16. 16 Variation 1: Elements 03:30
    Track
    16
    Title
    Variation 1: Elements
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  17. 17 Variation 2: Ballet 01:30
    Track
    17
    Title
    Variation 2: Ballet
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  18. 18 Variation 3: Assertion 02:04
    Track
    18
    Title
    Variation 3: Assertion
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  19. 19 Contrasts 02:52
    Track
    19
    Title
    Contrasts
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  20. 20 Children's March 02:23
    Track
    20
    Title
    Children's March
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  21. 21 Variation 4: Speculation 02:04
    Track
    21
    Title
    Variation 4: Speculation
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  22. 22 Variation 5: Interjections 04:00
    Track
    22
    Title
    Variation 5: Interjections
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  23. 23 Variation 6: Scherzo I 02:36
    Track
    23
    Title
    Variation 6: Scherzo I
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  24. 24 Variation 7: Contemplation 02:17
    Track
    24
    Title
    Variation 7: Contemplation
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  25. 25 Variation 8: Polonaise 03:29
    Track
    25
    Title
    Variation 8: Polonaise
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  26. 26 Variation 9: Funeral Processions 04:03
    Track
    26
    Title
    Variation 9: Funeral Processions
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  27. 27 Variation 10: Cool Interlude 02:52
    Track
    27
    Title
    Variation 10: Cool Interlude
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  28. 28 Variation 11: Scherzo II 01:42
    Track
    28
    Title
    Variation 11: Scherzo II
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  29. 29 Variation 12: Duet 02:38
    Track
    29
    Title
    Variation 12: Duet
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  30. 30 Variation 13: Dedicated to G.D. and A.D. 00:48
    Track
    30
    Title
    Variation 13: Dedicated to G.D. and A.D.
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal
  31. 31 Variation 14: Affirmation 04:18
    Track
    31
    Title
    Variation 14: Affirmation
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Arthur Bliss
    Ensemble
    BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Seal