Profil
Tipett: A Child Of Our Time / Colin Davis, Ute Selbig, Et Al
$13.99
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Details
- Composer
- TIPPET, MICHAEL
- Artist
- Davis, Saxonian Staatskapelle Dresden
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Profil
- Released
- Feb 26, 2008
- Catalog #
- PH07052
- UPC
- 881488705256
About
A memento of what must have been a very moving occasion.
As far as I know, this is Sir Colin Davis’s second recording of Tippett’s oratorio; his first, made for Philips in 1975 and featuring such luminaries as Jessye Norman, Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk, has always been one of the top choices. There are also valuable performances from Pritchard (1957, the pioneering recording), Rozhdestvensky (a live BBC relay on Carlton Classics) and, not least, the composer himself (a technically fallible but nevertheless overwhelming performance with the CBSO on Naxos). Davis also performed A Child of our Time at the Barbican last December and this was recorded for LSO Live.
Sir Colin has performed a number of works by British composers during his appearances in Dresden. His acclaimed reading of Elgar’s First Symphony has already appeared in this edition and he also performed Britten’s War Requiem in 2000 in commemoration of the destruction of Dresden. Performances of A Child of our Time in Germany carry a particular charge, bringing as they do associations of atonement and reparation. This is further confirmed by the lavishly illustrated CD booklet, which provides a detailed background to the events in Europe that inspired Tippett’s oratorio. There is also some fascinating information on Dresden’s synagogue, designed, like its famous opera house, by Gottfried Semper and destroyed during the Kristallnacht of 1938. No texts are provided.
Davis, aided by the spacious acoustic of the Semper Opera House, sets a steady pace for the most part, emphasising the dramatic weight and power of his conception. The chorus is backwardly placed but such is the excellence of their diction that this is not a problem. The oratorio is paced unerringly, the chorus providing rich tone in “Steal Away” vivid characterisation of persecutors and persecuted in “Burn down their houses” followed by a sombre reading of “Go Down Moses”. The sequence of Handel-inspired recitatives and arias in the central part of the oratorio move from fear, terror, anger and, finally, acceptance. At the end Davis draws the threads together with complete mastery for the final “Deep River”.
The soloists all characterise their roles extremely vividly, and although occasionally some idiosyncratic pronunciation can make for disconcerting listening this is a relatively small blemish when we are faced with such obvious involvement. Ute Selbig possesses a bright, full soprano - she sang Sibelius’s Luonnotar in the first half of the concert at which this recording was made - and soars effortlessly over the other forces in the spirituals and elsewhere. The late Jerry Hadley sings with passionate although somewhat plaintive tone, and Robert Holl is a tower of strength in the important bass part.
Sir Colin’s reading is undoubtedly authoritative and moving, with a powerful and responsive chorus and a team of soloists who are extremely involved dramatically, although vocally more fallible than some of their counterparts on disc. I wouldn’t say this new disc superseded any of the versions listed above, but it does provide a memento of what must have been a very moving occasion in the Semperoper, and occasionally surpasses its predecessors in terms of sheer emotional commitment.
-- Ewan McCormick, MusicWeb International
As far as I know, this is Sir Colin Davis’s second recording of Tippett’s oratorio; his first, made for Philips in 1975 and featuring such luminaries as Jessye Norman, Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk, has always been one of the top choices. There are also valuable performances from Pritchard (1957, the pioneering recording), Rozhdestvensky (a live BBC relay on Carlton Classics) and, not least, the composer himself (a technically fallible but nevertheless overwhelming performance with the CBSO on Naxos). Davis also performed A Child of our Time at the Barbican last December and this was recorded for LSO Live.
Sir Colin has performed a number of works by British composers during his appearances in Dresden. His acclaimed reading of Elgar’s First Symphony has already appeared in this edition and he also performed Britten’s War Requiem in 2000 in commemoration of the destruction of Dresden. Performances of A Child of our Time in Germany carry a particular charge, bringing as they do associations of atonement and reparation. This is further confirmed by the lavishly illustrated CD booklet, which provides a detailed background to the events in Europe that inspired Tippett’s oratorio. There is also some fascinating information on Dresden’s synagogue, designed, like its famous opera house, by Gottfried Semper and destroyed during the Kristallnacht of 1938. No texts are provided.
Davis, aided by the spacious acoustic of the Semper Opera House, sets a steady pace for the most part, emphasising the dramatic weight and power of his conception. The chorus is backwardly placed but such is the excellence of their diction that this is not a problem. The oratorio is paced unerringly, the chorus providing rich tone in “Steal Away” vivid characterisation of persecutors and persecuted in “Burn down their houses” followed by a sombre reading of “Go Down Moses”. The sequence of Handel-inspired recitatives and arias in the central part of the oratorio move from fear, terror, anger and, finally, acceptance. At the end Davis draws the threads together with complete mastery for the final “Deep River”.
The soloists all characterise their roles extremely vividly, and although occasionally some idiosyncratic pronunciation can make for disconcerting listening this is a relatively small blemish when we are faced with such obvious involvement. Ute Selbig possesses a bright, full soprano - she sang Sibelius’s Luonnotar in the first half of the concert at which this recording was made - and soars effortlessly over the other forces in the spirituals and elsewhere. The late Jerry Hadley sings with passionate although somewhat plaintive tone, and Robert Holl is a tower of strength in the important bass part.
Sir Colin’s reading is undoubtedly authoritative and moving, with a powerful and responsive chorus and a team of soloists who are extremely involved dramatically, although vocally more fallible than some of their counterparts on disc. I wouldn’t say this new disc superseded any of the versions listed above, but it does provide a memento of what must have been a very moving occasion in the Semperoper, and occasionally surpasses its predecessors in terms of sheer emotional commitment.
-- Ewan McCormick, MusicWeb International
Tracklist 32 tracks
-
1 Part I: The world turns on its dark side (Chorus) 04:54
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part I: The world turns on its dark side (Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:54
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
2 Part I: The Argument: Man has measured the heavens (Alto) 01:56
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I: The Argument: Man has measured the heavens (Alto)
- Duration
- 01:56
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Nora Gubisch
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
3 Part I: Interludium attacca 01:03
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I: Interludium attacca
- Duration
- 01:03
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
4 Part I: Scene: Is evil then good? (Chorus, Alto) 02:57
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I: Scene: Is evil then good? (Chorus, Alto)
- Duration
- 02:57
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Nora Gubisch
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
5 Part I: Now in each nation (Bass) 01:18
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part I: Now in each nation (Bass)
- Duration
- 01:18
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
6 Part I: Chorus of the Oppressed: When shall the userers' city cease (Chorus) 02:03
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part I: Chorus of the Oppressed: When shall the userers' city cease (Chorus)
- Duration
- 02:03
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
7 Part I: I have no money for my bread (Tenor) 03:20
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part I: I have no money for my bread (Tenor)
- Duration
- 03:20
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jerry Hadley
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
8 Part I: How can I cherish my man in such days (Soprano) 03:29
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part I: How can I cherish my man in such days (Soprano)
- Duration
- 03:29
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Ute Selbig
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
9 Part I: A Spiritual: Steal away (Chorus, Soprano, Tenor) 02:19
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part I: A Spiritual: Steal away (Chorus, Soprano, Tenor)
- Duration
- 02:19
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jerry Hadley, Ute Selbig
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
10 Part II: A star rises in mid-winter (Chorus) 02:42
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part II: A star rises in mid-winter (Chorus)
- Duration
- 02:42
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
11 Part II: And a time came (Bass) 00:19
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part II: And a time came (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:19
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
12 Part II: Double Chorus of Persecutors and Persecuted: Away with them! (Double Chorus) 01:01
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part II: Double Chorus of Persecutors and Persecuted: Away with them! (Double Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:01
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
13 Part II: Where they could, they fled (Bass) 00:23
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part II: Where they could, they fled (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:23
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
14 Part II: Chorus of the Self-righteous: We cannot have them in our Empire (Chorus) 00:42
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part II: Chorus of the Self-righteous: We cannot have them in our Empire (Chorus)
- Duration
- 00:42
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
15 Part II: And the boy's mother wrote a letter (Bass) 00:11
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part II: And the boy's mother wrote a letter (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:11
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
16 Part II: Scene: O my son! (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) 01:14
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part II: Scene: O my son! (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
- Duration
- 01:14
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jerry Hadley, Ute Selbig, Robert Holl, Nora Gubisch
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
17 Part II: A Spiritual: Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord (Chorus, Soprano, Tenor) 01:17
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part II: A Spiritual: Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord (Chorus, Soprano, Tenor)
- Duration
- 01:17
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jerry Hadley, Ute Selbig
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
18 Part II: Scene: The boy becomes desperate in his agony (Bass, Alto) 01:16
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part II: Scene: The boy becomes desperate in his agony (Bass, Alto)
- Duration
- 01:16
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl, Nora Gubisch
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
19 Part II: They took a terrible vengeance (Bass) 00:24
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part II: They took a terrible vengeance (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:24
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
20 Part II: The Terror: Burn down their houses! (Chorus) 01:03
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part II: The Terror: Burn down their houses! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:03
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
21 Part II: Men were ashamed of what was done (Bass) 00:35
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part II: Men were ashamed of what was done (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:35
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
22 Part II: A Spiritual of Anger: Go down, Moses (Chorus, Bass) 03:25
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Part II: A Spiritual of Anger: Go down, Moses (Chorus, Bass)
- Duration
- 03:25
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
23 Part II: The boy sings in his prison: My dreams are all shattered (Tenor) 03:00
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Part II: The boy sings in his prison: My dreams are all shattered (Tenor)
- Duration
- 03:00
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jerry Hadley
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
24 Part II: What have I done to you, my son? (Soprano) 01:26
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Part II: What have I done to you, my son? (Soprano)
- Duration
- 01:26
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Ute Selbig
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
25 Part II: The dark forces rise like a flood (Alto) 00:57
- Track
- 25
- Title
- Part II: The dark forces rise like a flood (Alto)
- Duration
- 00:57
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Nora Gubisch
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
26 Part II: A Spiritual: O, by and by (Chorus, Soprano) 01:09
- Track
- 26
- Title
- Part II: A Spiritual: O, by and by (Chorus, Soprano)
- Duration
- 01:09
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Ute Selbig
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
27 Part III: The cold deepens (Chorus) 04:17
- Track
- 27
- Title
- Part III: The cold deepens (Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:17
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
28 Part III: The soul of man (Alto) 02:12
- Track
- 28
- Title
- Part III: The soul of man (Alto)
- Duration
- 02:12
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Nora Gubisch
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
29 Part III: Scene: The words of wisdom are these (Bass, Chorus) 04:44
- Track
- 29
- Title
- Part III: Scene: The words of wisdom are these (Bass, Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:44
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
30 Part III: Praludium attacca 01:12
- Track
- 30
- Title
- Part III: Praludium attacca
- Duration
- 01:12
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
31 Part III: General Ensemble: I would know my shadow and my light (Chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) 04:40
- Track
- 31
- Title
- Part III: General Ensemble: I would know my shadow and my light (Chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
- Duration
- 04:40
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Ute Selbig, Nora Gubisch, Jerry Hadley, Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
32 Part III: A Spiritual: Deep river (Chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) 03:59
- Track
- 32
- Title
- Part III: A Spiritual: Deep river (Chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
- Duration
- 03:59
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Ute Selbig, Nora Gubisch, Jerry Hadley, Robert Holl
- Ensemble
- Chor der Staatsoperette Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden
- Conductor
- Colin Davis