Tippett Child of our Time
Davis marshalls his Dresden forces for a big-scale ‘Child’ that keeps the tension
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Michael Tippett
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Profil
Magazine Review Date: 3/2008
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 65
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: PH07052

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(A) Child of Our Time |
Michael Tippett, Composer
Colin Davis, Conductor Dresden State Opera Chorus Jerry Hadley, Tenor Michael Tippett, Composer Nora Gubisch, Mezzo soprano Robert Holl, Bass Staatskapelle Dresden Ute Selbig, Soprano |
Author: Arnold Whittall
Sir Colin Davis paces the sombre orchestral opening with great deliberation, and when the chorus enter the words “on its dark side” are weightily emphasised. With a professional chorus on hand, as well as the richly sonorous orchestra, a performance on the grand scale is entirely appropriate. Yet there is no loss of dramatic intensity, and tension is particularly well sustained in the tricky succession of short choruses and recitatives in Part 2. That the superb final ensemble is not as moving as in the best recordings is due mainly to a wayward tenor soloist, Jerry Hadley. But Robert Holl is excellent in the bass recitatives and both Ute Selbig and Nora Gubisch overcome occasional pronunciation problems to reach to the heart of Tippett’s impassioned expressiveness.
The recording is well managed, with a real sense of occasion. But it can’t match the exceptional qualities of Sir Colin’s earlier recording, made in 1975, with Jessye Norman and Janet Baker among the soloists. And there will soon be another version from him, made in the Barbican for LSO Live last December.
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