Tippett on CD

[johnb]

A couple of posts on another thread have prompted me to ask about recordings of Tippett's music. I have a superficial acquaintance with one or two of the symphonies and, of course, A Child of our Time but know little else.

I see there are two boxed sets from Decca, one of his orchestral music and one of the vocal and choral works,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tippett-Orchestral-Chamber-Various-Artists/dp/B0009A41W4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290684914&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tippett-Vocal-Music-Various-Artists/dp/B000BV5RD8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1290684914&sr=1-2

Does anyone have any thoughts?

[Tevot]

Hi,

Certainly both sets seem to represent good value for money (the Orchestral works set in particular) Tippett's certainly not everyone's cup of tea (!) but certainly the Davis recording of Symphony no.2 has always been well regarded. Solti's recording of the 4th has had mixed reviews - but is well worth the listen. The Davis recording of the Triple Concerto (lovely slow movement) was once coupled with the Concerto for Orchestra (different kettle of fish...thorny stuff ...but a strangely beautiful flute passage right at the end I seem to remember...) Also you have the Double String concerto and the Corelli Fantasia - accessible lovely stuff and the Birthday suite...

Don't know much about the Chamber music to be honest...

Once upon a time (1980's Prom Broadcast ) I heard his Shires' Suite for Orchestra and Chorus... riotous... with percussion simulating the sound of popping corks to a boisterous drinking song...

A snooty review called it "sub-Ivesian"... I loved it!

Does anyone know if there is a recording?

Best wishes,

Tevot

[fanofbach]

I support that view of Davis' Symphony 2. I love the piece and played it incessantly when I first heard it in a version on the old BBC music Magazine CD [number 130] with Tippett himself conducting which, if you have it or can find it, is well worth it for the obvious reasons. I'm still not sure of the 4th - perhaps it's the Solti/Chicago version, even if they were the dedicatees. I've a recording of a Prom with Davis and LSO fom 2005 which I must dig out and try again! There was a very passable set of symphonies from Chandos with Hickox.

The Quartets are also well worth trying out and are quite distinctive and, like the symphonies, can be challenging! A set was available from the Lindsays on ASV but they may be deleted now? There is a couple of Naxos discs that I can't vouch for.

[perfect wagnerite]

Not much opera in those boxes, sadly - especially when there were outstanding recordings of The Midsummer Marriage and King Priam made by Universal companies - the first, conducted by Colin Davis, is now on Lyrita, the second now on Chandos. The first is a work of lyrical gorgeousness whose libretto is much better than its reputation (it helps to have read some Jung); the second a sparer, more concentrated work that IMO is fantastically well served by Atherton and the London Sinfonietta in the recording now on Chandos.

The Knot Garden, which is in the box, is for many a problematic work. The Sixties argot of its libretto ("Sure, baby") can grate and the characters - even though they are based on The Tempest - can seem more like concepts than people. But listening to it again recently I was surprised at how well it stood up. Perhaps it's moved from slightly embarrassed attempt to be contemporary, through earnest period piece, to a point where the listener can get past the window-dressing to the music within.

[Chris Newman]

I find the Knot Garden rather fun though as perfect wagnerite says rather earnest.

Tevot asks about the Shires Suite. There used to be a very acceptable recording conducted by the composer with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra with which Sir Michael had close associations. There is a less well recorded version on YouTube: at least it seems a more clangourous accoustic than I recall. I do not know if it is a permitted link but here it is if it works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHmzm7H_kM

Happy listening
Chris.

[Roehre]

A couple of posts on another thread have prompted me to ask about recordings of Tippett's music. I have a superficial acquaintance with one or two of the symphonies and, of course, A Child of our Time but know little else.

I see there are two boxed sets from Decca, one of his orchestral music and one of the vocal and choral works,

Does anyone have any thoughts?

I would recommend the orchestral/instrumental box unreservedly ( I personally like Solti's rendition of 4, but Davis 2 is IMHO an absolute must). The only IMO "problematic" work in this set Symphony 3( i.e. the composition, not the performance or the recording)
Please note that the original BBCMM-CD with Tippett's 2 & 4 symphonies has been released on NMC and is still available there.

Regarding the vocal box: The Knot Garden is IMO a problematic work, but in terms of performers and performances the works included deserve to be heard.

[johnb]

Thank you, everyone, for your very helpful thoughts.

(Actually I'm not sure that 'thank you' is in order as it means I'm going to have to fork out yet more money and find extra room on my crowed shelves! )

Roehr: I remember that you were an amazing source of information when I once asked about Bernd Alois Zimmermann (on the BBC MBs).

It's good to see so many familiar faces here.

[Roehre]

Roehr: I remember that you were an amazing source of information when I once asked about Bernd Alois Zimmermann (on the BBC MBs).

Thanks Johnb, that was in april or may 2009 IIRC :)

It's good to see so many familiar faces here.

It really is !

[HighlandDougie]

The Piano Concerto - from the same period as the Midsummer Marriage and very much of that sound world. The end of the slow movement is one of the most wonderful endings of any movement I've ever heard. The John Ogdon/Colin Davis performance has something very special about it but is rather let down by the recording. Happily, the Steven Osborne version (on Hyperion) is well recorded and almost as good as Ogdon. If you like MM and the 2nd Symphony, you should like this Concerto.

[Ian]

Hello, I've got quite few Tippett recordings. One of my favourites is the Peter Donohoe recording of the first 3 Piano Sonatas on Naxos.

[madamesuggia]

Greetings Johnb,

Do leave room on the shelf for Tippett's Rose Lake and Vision of St. Augustine.

There's a wonderful recording containing both works on RCA red seal

[johnb]

Greetings Madame,

Somewhere, I have the Rose Lake and Vision of St. Augustine you recommend (Colin Davis with the LSO).

Yes it is a wonderful recording!!!

I must dig it out and listen to it again.

[Suffolkcoastal]

... and don't forget the five String Quartets either, the 2nd in particular is highly engaging.

[Panjandrum]

... and don't forget the five String Quartets either, the 2nd in particular is highly engaging.

SC, I am forever dipping my toes into Tippett , but this thread is inspiring me to take the plunge. There are some informative reviews on Amazon re Tippett's operas, inter alia, from our old friend Tancredi from TOP. It would be illuminating to have her thoughts on the best available recordings of Tippett.

[Colonel Danby]

Actually I've got that very recording with Sir Michael conducting the Leicestershire Schools SO (Decca Argo ZRG 685) thence the "Shires Suite" but unfortunately it only has the final two movements: I'm not sure whether it has been recorded in full elsewhere, but I doubt it. The other works were Bliss's Introduction and Allegro, conducted by the composer; Andrew Preview in his own 'Overture to a Comedy' the Overture 'Panache' by Herbert Chappell and interestingly John Ireland's Elegy from the 'Downland Suite'; and Brian Kelly's Cuban Suite conducted Eric Pinkett.

I haven't heard of them for a while, but in the 1970s, the LSSO were very good indeed...