Naxos
Tippett: Child Of Our Time / Robinson, Walker, Et Al
$19.99
Only 3 left
Details
- Composer
- TIPPETT
- Artist
- Jo, John, Garrison, Cheek
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Feb 22, 2005
- Catalog #
- 8557570
- UPC
- 747313257027
About
There have been only a handful of recordings of Michael Tippett's oratorio A Child of Our Time--André Previn and the RPO, Colin Davis and the BBC Symphony (with Jessye Norman and Janet Baker), both of which are out of print; Richard Hickox and the City of Birmingham Chorus & Symphony (Chandos), and this one, originally issued on Collins Classics in 1992. Of course, this performance has the benefit of the composer as conductor--and like Britten, Tippett was a fine podium interpreter of his own music, here supported by excellent orchestral and choral forces and some pretty decent vocal soloists.
The oratorio, written at the dawn of World War II, is (in Tippett's words) "a Passion, not of god-man, but of man whose god has left the light of the heavens for the dark of the collective unconscious." Its text, written by the composer, begins: "The world turns on its dark side. It is winter." And from there we are confronted with questions, emotions, and often perplexing aspects of our humanity, specifically the nature of good and evil and the individual's responsibility, expressed in words near the work's end: "I would know my shadow and my light, so shall I at last be whole." Amid the rousing, powerful choruses, poignant solo sections, and vibrant orchestral scoring, Tippett injects several Spirituals, which serve as commentary and help expand the work's reach and message, from "a Europe...stretching out through its torments toward Russia in the East, and even America in the West." It's a brilliant creation (its three-part structure loosely modeled after Handel's Messiah) whose sentiments and questions certainly haven't lost their relevance--and the music sounds with an originality and spiritual force that's as fresh as ever, from the stirring, ominous orchestral opening to the closing strains of the choir and soloists singing "Deep River".
There hasn't been much interest in Tippett's music for quite a while, but as things tend to go with great but neglected composers, it's only a matter of time before performers and record companies "rediscover" his orchestral and chamber music, his choral works and songs, and his five operas. If you don't know Tippett, here is an ideal place to begin; if you're a choral music fan and somehow missed this the first time around, don't hesitate.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
The oratorio, written at the dawn of World War II, is (in Tippett's words) "a Passion, not of god-man, but of man whose god has left the light of the heavens for the dark of the collective unconscious." Its text, written by the composer, begins: "The world turns on its dark side. It is winter." And from there we are confronted with questions, emotions, and often perplexing aspects of our humanity, specifically the nature of good and evil and the individual's responsibility, expressed in words near the work's end: "I would know my shadow and my light, so shall I at last be whole." Amid the rousing, powerful choruses, poignant solo sections, and vibrant orchestral scoring, Tippett injects several Spirituals, which serve as commentary and help expand the work's reach and message, from "a Europe...stretching out through its torments toward Russia in the East, and even America in the West." It's a brilliant creation (its three-part structure loosely modeled after Handel's Messiah) whose sentiments and questions certainly haven't lost their relevance--and the music sounds with an originality and spiritual force that's as fresh as ever, from the stirring, ominous orchestral opening to the closing strains of the choir and soloists singing "Deep River".
There hasn't been much interest in Tippett's music for quite a while, but as things tend to go with great but neglected composers, it's only a matter of time before performers and record companies "rediscover" his orchestral and chamber music, his choral works and songs, and his five operas. If you don't know Tippett, here is an ideal place to begin; if you're a choral music fan and somehow missed this the first time around, don't hesitate.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 30 tracks
-
1 Part 1: The world turns on its dark side (Chorus) 04:05
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part 1: The world turns on its dark side (Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:05
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
2 Part 1: The Argument - Man has measured the heavens with a telescope (Alto) 02:14
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part 1: The Argument - Man has measured the heavens with a telescope (Alto)
- Duration
- 02:14
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Sarah Walker
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
3 Part 1: Interludium - Scena - Is evil then good? (Chorus and Alto) 04:13
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part 1: Interludium - Scena - Is evil then good? (Chorus and Alto)
- Duration
- 04:13
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Sarah Walker
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
4 Part 1: The Narrator - Now in each nation there were some cast out (Bass) 01:18
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part 1: The Narrator - Now in each nation there were some cast out (Bass)
- Duration
- 01:18
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
5 Part 1: Chorus of the Oppressed - When shall the usurers' city cease 02:21
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part 1: Chorus of the Oppressed - When shall the usurers' city cease
- Duration
- 02:21
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
6 Part 1: I have no money for my bread (Tenor) 03:25
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part 1: I have no money for my bread (Tenor)
- Duration
- 03:25
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jon Garrison
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
7 Part 1: How can I cherish my man in such days (Soprano) 03:33
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part 1: How can I cherish my man in such days (Soprano)
- Duration
- 03:33
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
8 Part 1: A Spiritual - Steal away (Chorus and Soli) 02:32
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part 1: A Spiritual - Steal away (Chorus and Soli)
- Duration
- 02:32
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson, Sarah Walker, Jon Garrison, John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
9 Part 2: A star rises in mid-winter (Chorus) 03:27
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part 2: A star rises in mid-winter (Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:27
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
10 Part 2: The Narrator - And a time came (Bass) 00:19
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part 2: The Narrator - And a time came (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:19
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
11 Part 2: Chorus of Persecutors and Persecuted - Away with them! (Double Chorus) 01:00
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part 2: Chorus of Persecutors and Persecuted - Away with them! (Double Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:00
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
12 Part 2: The Narrator - Where they could, they fled from the terror (Bass) 00:29
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part 2: The Narrator - Where they could, they fled from the terror (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:29
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
13 Part 2: Chorus of the Self-righteous - We cannot have them in our Empire 00:48
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part 2: Chorus of the Self-righteous - We cannot have them in our Empire
- Duration
- 00:48
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
14 Part 2: The Narrator - And the boy's mother wrote a letter (Bass) 00:16
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part 2: The Narrator - And the boy's mother wrote a letter (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:16
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
15 Part 2: Scena - O my son! (Soloists) 01:23
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part 2: Scena - O my son! (Soloists)
- Duration
- 01:23
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson, Sarah Walker, Jon Garrison, John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
16 Part 2: A Spiritual - Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord (Chorus and Soli) 01:36
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part 2: A Spiritual - Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord (Chorus and Soli)
- Duration
- 01:36
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson, Sarah Walker, Jon Garrison, John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
17 Part 2: Scena - The boy becomes desperate in his agony (Bass, Alto) 01:30
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part 2: Scena - The boy becomes desperate in his agony (Bass, Alto)
- Duration
- 01:30
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Sarah Walker, John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
18 Part 2: The Narrator - They took a terrible vengeance (Bass) 00:29
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part 2: The Narrator - They took a terrible vengeance (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:29
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
19 Part 2: The Terror - Burn down their houses! (Chorus) 01:06
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part 2: The Terror - Burn down their houses! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:06
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
20 Part 2: The Narrator - Men were ashamed of what was done (Bass) 00:39
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part 2: The Narrator - Men were ashamed of what was done (Bass)
- Duration
- 00:39
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
21 Part 2: A Spiritual of Anger - Go down, Moses (Chorus and Bass) 03:08
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part 2: A Spiritual of Anger - Go down, Moses (Chorus and Bass)
- Duration
- 03:08
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
22 Part 2: The boy sings in his prison - My dreams are all shattered in a ghastly reality (Tenor) 03:45
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Part 2: The boy sings in his prison - My dreams are all shattered in a ghastly reality (Tenor)
- Duration
- 03:45
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Jon Garrison
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
23 Part 2: The Mother - What have I done to you, my son? (Soprano) 01:36
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Part 2: The Mother - What have I done to you, my son? (Soprano)
- Duration
- 01:36
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
24 Part 2: The dark forces rise like a flood (Alto) 00:52
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Part 2: The dark forces rise like a flood (Alto)
- Duration
- 00:52
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Sarah Walker
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
25 Part 2: A Spiritual - O, by and by (Chorus and Soprano) 01:28
- Track
- 25
- Title
- Part 2: A Spiritual - O, by and by (Chorus and Soprano)
- Duration
- 01:28
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
26 Part 3: The cold deepens (Chorus) 04:20
- Track
- 26
- Title
- Part 3: The cold deepens (Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:20
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
27 Part 3: The soul of man is impassioned like a woman (Alto) 02:28
- Track
- 27
- Title
- Part 3: The soul of man is impassioned like a woman (Alto)
- Duration
- 02:28
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Sarah Walker
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
28 Part 3: Scena - The words of wisdom are these (Bass, Chorus) 04:55
- Track
- 28
- Title
- Part 3: Scena - The words of wisdom are these (Bass, Chorus)
- Duration
- 04:55
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
29 Part 3: Preludium - I would know my shadow and my light (Chorus and Soli) 06:32
- Track
- 29
- Title
- Part 3: Preludium - I would know my shadow and my light (Chorus and Soli)
- Duration
- 06:32
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson, Sarah Walker, Jon Garrison, John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett
-
30 Part 3: A Spiritual - Deep river, my home is over Jordan (Chorus and Soli) 03:31
- Track
- 30
- Title
- Part 3: A Spiritual - Deep river, my home is over Jordan (Chorus and Soli)
- Duration
- 03:31
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Faye Robinson, Sarah Walker, Jon Garrison, John Cheek
- Ensemble
- City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Michael Tippett