Sir Michael Tippett - The luminary in his rival's shadow

[PJPJ]

The luminary in his rival's shadow - the title of an article by Ivan Hewett in today's Telegraph [review section] - Sir Michael Tippett's "reputation since his death in 1998 has had a calamitous fall". He goes on to highlight Tippett's areas of greatness, an excellent article for admirers of the composer prior to the BBC SO's Tippett season at the Barbican.

Not on the Telegraph website at the moment but should appear soon.

Concert next week, 19 October:


Tippett: Triple Concerto
Wagner, arr. Vlieger: The Ring - an orchestral adventure

Leopold Trio
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Mark Wigglesworth conductor


A rare opportunity to hear Tippett’s Triple Concerto, a masterpiece of his late period when he confessed he had ‘turned my back with some pleasure on the cruel world.’ Characterised by rapt lyricism, the concerto follows the course of a day through twilight to night and dawn, punctuated with magical interludes infused with gamelan-like percussion, inspired by his travels in Bali. Top soloists Isabelle van Keulen, Lawrence Power and Kate Gould of the Leopold Trio join forces with Mark Wigglesworth for this radiant journey. As part of our opera strand comes Henk de Vlieger’s exuberant arrangement of Wagner’s great Ring cycle as a four-part symphony, taking in all the major scenes, beginning with Das Rheingold’s magnificent Prelude and culminating in the destruction of the Gods and Valhalla.

The Tippett Series

http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/events/series/bbcso_tippett

[Serial_Apologist]

The luminary in his rival's shadow - the title of an article by Ivan Hewett in today's Telegraph [review section] - Sir Michael Tippett's "reputation since his death in 1998 has had a calamitous fall". He goes on to highlight Tippett's areas of greatness, an excellent article for admirers of the composer prior to the BBC SO's Tippett season at the Barbican.

Not on the Telegraph website at the moment but should appear soon.

Concert next week, 19 October:


Tippett: Triple Concerto
Wagner, arr. Vlieger: The Ring - an orchestral adventure

Leopold Trio
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Mark Wigglesworth conductor


A rare opportunity to hear Tippett’s Triple Concerto, a masterpiece of his late period when he confessed he had ‘turned my back with some pleasure on the cruel world.’ Characterised by rapt lyricism, the concerto follows the course of a day through twilight to night and dawn, punctuated with magical interludes infused with gamelan-like percussion, inspired by his travels in Bali. Top soloists Isabelle van Keulen, Lawrence Power and Kate Gould of the Leopold Trio join forces with Mark Wigglesworth for this radiant journey. As part of our opera strand comes Henk de Vlieger’s exuberant arrangement of Wagner’s great Ring cycle as a four-part symphony, taking in all the major scenes, beginning with Das Rheingold’s magnificent Prelude and culminating in the destruction of the Gods and Valhalla.

The Tippett Series

http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/even.../bbcso_tippett

Is there a link to that article, PJPJ?

If my guess is right, the rival's shadow referred to will once again be Britten's.

The Triple Concerto is pleasant enough, rather insubstantial by Tippett's early standards, imho, but in scale with his natural abilities, which he did often overstretch, whereas Britten, like him or not...

As for Mr de Vlieger's Wagner bowdlerisation!

[amateur51]

The luminary in his rival's shadow - the title of an article by Ivan Hewett in today's Telegraph [review section] - Sir Michael Tippett's "reputation since his death in 1998 has had a calamitous fall". He goes on to highlight Tippett's areas of greatness, an excellent article for admirers of the composer prior to the BBC SO's Tippett season at the Barbican.

Not on the Telegraph website at the moment but should appear soon.

Concert next week, 19 October:


Tippett: Triple Concerto
Wagner, arr. Vlieger: The Ring - an orchestral adventure

Leopold Trio
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Mark Wigglesworth conductor


A rare opportunity to hear Tippett’s Triple Concerto, a masterpiece of his late period when he confessed he had ‘turned my back with some pleasure on the cruel world.’ Characterised by rapt lyricism, the concerto follows the course of a day through twilight to night and dawn, punctuated with magical interludes infused with gamelan-like percussion, inspired by his travels in Bali. Top soloists Isabelle van Keulen, Lawrence Power and Kate Gould of the Leopold Trio join forces with Mark Wigglesworth for this radiant journey. As part of our opera strand comes Henk de Vlieger’s exuberant arrangement of Wagner’s great Ring cycle as a four-part symphony, taking in all the major scenes, beginning with Das Rheingold’s magnificent Prelude and culminating in the destruction of the Gods and Valhalla.

The Tippett Series

http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/even.../bbcso_tippett

Does anyone know if this series is being broadcast 'live' or otherwise on R3, please?

[teamsaint]

Does anyone know if this series is being broadcast 'live' or otherwise on R3, please?

Yeah, on R3. I think.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nb1h0

Unless I have misunderstood.

[amateur51]

Yeah, on R3. I think.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nb1h0

Unless I have misunderstood.

Many thanks teams - I could have looked for myself, very lazy

[teamsaint]

yeah, you idle so and so AND its the weekend !!

Anyway, looks an interesting programme, how the hell can I find the time for all this stuff.
Need "listen again" in my car...

[PJPJ]

Is there a link to that article, PJPJ?

If my guess is right, the rival's shadow referred to will once again be Britten's.

......

No link just yet - I will keep a look-out. It will probably appear tomorrow.

I guess as it's the BBC SO (and a British composer) the concerts should be broadcast.

Certainly the first in the Tippett Series (or more accurately, Tippett and..... Series) is being broadcast live:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nb1h0

[Petrushka]

The Triple Concerto is pleasant enough, rather insubstantial by Tippett's early standards, imho, but in scale with his natural abilities, which he did often overstretch, whereas Britten, like him or not...

As for Mr de Vlieger's Wagner bowdlerisation!

I have a higher opinion of the Triple Concerto than SA. The slow movement miraculously evokes the time of its first performance (1980) for me and I can't say that about much contemporary music.

Never heard the Wagner concoction so will be interested in catching it. Definitely one to listen to live.

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes Petrushka, that "very slow, calmer still" movement is SUBLIME... and relates, richly and meaningfully, to the outer movements. One for the Bedside Tivoli tonight I think.

As is well-known Tippett is a huge hero for me, there are so many pieces of his which I love, I'll have to come back on it after some listening - I do hope more of the concerts will go out live...

He's a great composer - nothing more to say (apart from expressions of love and enthusiasm..!)

[Roslynmuse]

Yes Petrushka, that "very slow, calmer still" movement is SUBLIME... and relates, richly and meaningfully, to the outer movements. One for the Bedside Tivoli tonight I think.

As is well-known Tippett is a huge hero for me, there are so many pieces of his which I love, I'll have to come back on it after some listening - I do hope more of the concerts will go out live...

He's a great composer - nothing more to say (apart from expressions of love and enthusiasm..!)

[BBMmk2]

This gets the thumbs up from me as well.its apity that with the LvB, Mark Simpon and Tippett concert they are doing, is not a Robert Simpson? Dos'nt the BBC feel they cannot do justoce to Robert Simpson's output?

[bluestateprommer]

Is there a link to that article, PJPJ? If my guess is right, the rival's shadow referred to will once again be Britten's.

I haven't seen a link to the newer article from the Telegraph's site, but in lieu of that, this older article by Ivan Hewett should do:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3634079/How-great-was-Tippett.html

From a US perspective, the one work with even a smidgen of a toe-hold in the repertoire of US orchestras would be the Concerto for Double String Orchestra, AFAICT. Sir Andrew Davis led The Midsummer Marriage at Lyric Opera of Chicago some years back (which I was fortunate enough to see), although the awkwardness of the libretto and the story made me understand why it hasn't really taken hold in the way that "his rival"'s operas have. The music is wonderful, of course, which ultimately makes it worthwhile. I would be thrilled if some US company were to stage King Priam, for example, where I have Santa Fe Opera in mind for KP, but I'm not holding my breath.

[salymap]

I always felt rather sorry for Tippett in his lifetime as he seemed to have so many enemies, or at least people who disapproved of him.

I shall try to remember to listen to the Triple Concerto tonight. Years ago I saw and enjoyed The Knot Garden and King Priam at CG. I have to SEE modern opera to appreciate it, CDs are no good in that case.

[HighlandDougie]

Working in London this week so this concert is part of the R'n R. Looking forward to the Tippett (the reason I'm going) but may flee at the interval. Last night's LSO concert was, I thought, special because of Vasily Petrenko's Elgar 1st which he approached as if it was a great symphony in the romantic tradition (think Tchaikovsky) but with a healthy dose of urgency (think Elgar conducting his own music). It was, well, thrilling. The Orchestra looked pretty happy with him, too. Lucky Liverpool to have him. It wiped the memory of Tuesday's pretty execrable Tchaik 1 at the RFH (although Andrew Litton's Shostakovich 5th was a fine performance).

[salymap]

Heads up for Tippett Triple Concerto tonight............