Tippett: A Child of Our Time / Davis, BBC Symphony

$10.99
Label
Chandos
Release Date
May 3, 2024
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Michael Tippett
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Bbc Symphony Chorus
    • PERFORMER
      Pumeza Matchikiza, Dame Sarah Connolly, Joshua Stewart, Ashley Riches, Bbc Symp
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      May 03, 2024
    • UPC
      095115534120
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      CHSA 5341
    • LABEL
      Chandos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. Part I: The world turns on its dark side (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    2. Part I: The Argument: Man has measured the heavens (Alto)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Sarah Connolly

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    3. Part I: Interludium attacca

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    4. Part I: Scene: Is evil then good? (Chorus, Alto)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Sarah Connolly

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    5. Part I: Now in each nation (Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    6. Part I: Chorus of the Oppressed: When shall the userers' city cease (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    7. Part I: I have no money for my bread (Tenor)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Joshua Stewart

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    8. Part I: How can I cherish my man in such days (Soprano)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    9. Part I: A Spiritual: Steal away (Chorus, Soprano, Tenor)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza, Joshua Stewart

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    10. Part II: A star rises in mid-winter (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    11. Part II: And a time came (Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    12. Part II: Double Chorus of Persecutors and Persecuted: Away with them! (Double Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    13. Part II: Where they could, they fled (Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    14. Part II: Chorus of the Self-righteous: We cannot have them in our Empire (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    15. Part II: And the boy's mother wrote a letter (Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    16. Part II: Scene: O my son! (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza, Sarah Connolly, Ashley Riches, Joshua Stewart

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    17. Part II: A Spiritual: Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord (Chorus, Soprano, Tenor)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza, Joshua Stewart

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    18. Part II: Scene: The boy becomes desperate in his agony (Bass, Alto)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches, Sarah Connolly

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    19. Part II: They took a terrible vengeance (Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    20. Part II: The Terror: Burn down their houses! (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    21. Part II: Men were ashamed of what was done (Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    22. Part II: A Spiritual of Anger: Go down, Moses (Chorus, Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    23. Part II: The boy sings in his prison: My dreams are all shattered (Tenor)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Joshua Stewart

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    24. Part II: What have I done to you, my son? (Soprano)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    25. Part II: The dark forces rise like a flood (Alto)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Sarah Connolly

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    26. Part II: A Spiritual: O, by and by (Chorus, Soprano)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    27. Part III: The cold deepens (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    28. Part III: The soul of man (Alto)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Sarah Connolly

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    29. Part III: Scene: The words of wisdom are these (Bass, Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    30. Part III: Praeludium attacca

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    31. Part III: General Ensemble: I would know my shadow and my light (Chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza, Sarah Connolly, Joshua Stewart, Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    32. Part III: A Spiritual: Deep river (Chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)

      Composer: Michael Tippett

      Ensemble: BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Pumeza Matshikiza, Sarah Connolly, Joshua Stewart, Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Andrew Davis


Michael Tippett’s oratorio A Child of Our Time was composed between 1939 and 1942 as a direct response to the events leading up to (and including) the notorious Kristallnacht, in November 1938, in National Socialist Germany. Tippet first intended to write an opera, but quickly determined that this would inevitably be too literal, and that the (rather neglected) oratorio form lent greater scope for reflective and meditative interjections to the narrative.

Hoping to persuade his friend and mentor T.S. Elliot to write the libretto, he sent the poet such an intricately detailed plan that Elliot responded by suggesting that Tippett, having thought so carefully about it, prepare the text himself – which he duly did. (He then went on to write his own libretti for all his future large vocal works). Set for choir, orchestra, and four soloists, the work adopts a structure that owes a debt to Handel’s Messiah, which Tippett had studied intensively in the 1930s. In addition, Tippett wanted to incorporate choral interludes much as Bach had done in his passions. Rejecting Lutheran chorals and Jewish hymns, he finally settled on African-American spirituals of which he placed five within the work.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with an exceptional quartet of soloists. The album was recorded in Surround Sound in Croydon’s Fairfield Halls following live performances in London’s Royal Festival Hall.

REVIEW:

Bass Ashley Riches shines particularly as the narrator, bringing a terrific clarity and command to the role. The BBC Symphony Orchestra give a fine performance, but the real star of the show is the BBC Symphony Chorus.

— BBC Music Magazine