Recordings
Decca's first two reissues of recordings of Tippett's music in their British Music Collection series have been greatly appreciated and, in sales terms, have proved highly successful.
Now they have brought out a double-CD album comprising reissues of the original recordings of The Knot Garden conducted by Sir Colin Davis, and of Symphony No. 4, conducted by Sir Georg Solti.
The Knot Garden
Cast/Orchestra of Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Colin Davis Symphony No. 4 Chicago Symphony Orchesta/Sir Georg Solti
Decca: The British Collection 2CD album no: 475 056-2
EMI reissue historic Tippett recordings for the first time on CD
EMI Classics recently released on CD the first ever recordings made of Tippett's cantata, Boyhood's End and his song-cycle The Heart's Assurance.
The great English tenor Peter Pears was accompanied in this 1952 recording by the Australian pianist, Noel Mewton-Wood, following a number of live performances and BBC broadcasts which they gave together. Although their recording was reissued by Argo in 1965, it has been a collector's item ever since.
EMI have included on this CD, Tippett's String Quartet No.2 and the Quartetto lirico by M†ty†s Seiber, in performances both originally recorded by Amadeus Quartet in 1956.
Born in Budapest in the same year as Tippett, 2005, Seiber settled in London in 1935. Seven years later, Tippett invited him to teach at Morley College where, concurrently, the Amadeus Quartet was formed by three Viennese refugees and a Londoner!
Right up to his death in 1960, Seiber enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Tippett: it was through him that A Child of Our Time was first performed in Budapest in 1947 and his own works were often featured in concerts at Morley College.
To complete the CD, EMI have included the 1965 recording of Tippett's Songs for Ariel, also sung by Peter Pears, but this time accompanied by Benjamin Britten.
EMI Classics Cat number 585150-2-2
Fans of the Australian pianist, Noel Mewton-Wood should note that the Pears/Mewton-Wood recordings of Boyhood's End and The Heart's Assurance are also included in Australian Heritage's 3-CD tribute album, "Noel Mewton-Wood: The Legendary Recordings.
Noel Mewton-Wood Cat. Number: ABC 461-900-2