Michael Tippett was considered one of Britain's greatest composers of the twentieth century, alongside Britons. Tippett's career, however, was very different from that of Britons. The latter caused a furore soon after graduating and was regarded as someone with a technical mastery that was equaled by few. Things were not so easy for Tippett; he was a typical late bloomer. Although he graduated from
… London's Royal College of Music as early as 1928, he still spent much of the 1930s refining his compositional technique. Many of the works he wrote during that period were only study material for him and have therefore not been published. Tippett's breakthrough was not until the 1960s. Britten was now regarded by many as a somewhat old-fashioned composer who had passed his peak. Tippett's more modern idiom was now referred to as the flagship of English music. Four works by Tippett have been brought together on this CD, with which his career can be nicely followed. The oldest piece is the Fantasy on a Theme by Handel for piano and orchestra from 1939/1941; an almost fifteen minute whole, which, although not unattractive, does not compete with the comparable Fantasy on a theme by Corelli from 1953. This is an atmospheric piece for string orchestra, in which two Corelli themes have been ingeniously incorporated. In the years 1953-1955 the Piano Concerto was born, which is also a good example of Tippett's more mature style. In addition, a short Prelude for brass, bells and percussion will be heard. The excellent performances by pianist Howard Shelley and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Richard Hickox make listening to this CD a pleasure. (JvG) _more
