Martyn Brabbins, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers - Michael Tippett: New Year [CD]

Cat. no: NMCD291
Format: CD
Barcode: 5023363029124
Release Date: 14 Mar 2025
Genre: Classical

This is the frst commercial recording of Michael Tippett's opera New Year, featuring a stellar cast, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins

This major 2- disc release was recorded in Glasgow in April 2024 ahead of the live performance given with stage director Victoria Newlyn .Described by Tippett's acclaimed biographer, Oliver Soden, as the recording that flls a gaping hole in the history of British opera, providing the missing link between Benjamin Britten and Mark-Anthony Turnage, New Year is a space-aged fairytale opera that moves between two worlds of 'Somewhere and Today' and 'Nowhere and Tomorrow'.

Two worlds collide in Tippett's New Year as a visitor from the future ('Nowhere Tomorrow') helps the central reclusive character escape from their personal fears and fantasies and embrace the frightening urban realities of 'Somewhere Today'. The cast features: soprano Rhian Lois as Jo Ann, a trainee children's doctor, baritone Ross Ramgobin as Donny, her young brother; mezzo-soprano Susan Bickley as Nan, their foster mother; baritone Roland Wood as Merlin, the computer wizard; tenor Robert Murray as Pelegrin, the space pilot; soprano Rachel Nicholls as Regan, their boss; and tenor Alan Oke as the Presenter.

Reviews and Features:
The Times, Financial Times, Musical Opinion, Gramophone, BBC Music magazine, 
Klassiskmusikk (Norway), Opera magazine, Opera Wire, Opera Today
BBC Music magazine full page feature for Martyn Brabbins 'Music to my Ears'

Tracks: New Year: Act 1 Prelude - 'Our world is wicked...' / New Year: Scene 1 - 'Safe, 
safe, Safe' / New Year: 'Donny, Donny, why are you here?' / New Year: 'Children of the 
terror town' / New Year: Donny's Skarade / New Year: 'Stop now for that's enough' / 
New Year: 'Waifs and orphans...' / New Year: Interlude - 'Nowhere...is where we dream 
we may' / New Year: Scene 2 - Tomorrow's laboratory / New Year: 'Who is that?' / New 
Year: 'Manifest, manifest am I' / New Year: Interlude: 'Mysterious is the Dream' / New 
Year: Scene 3 - 'I am Pelegrin...' / New Year: Act 2 Prelude - 'Watch while they dance' / 
New Year: Scene 1 - 'Mummers and mountebanks' / New Year: The Shaman Dance / 
New Year: The Hunt - 'Round and About'...'The Beating Out' / New Year: Scene 2 - 
'Thrice magic mountain' / New Year: 'Who, who are you, strange people?' / New Year: 
'Pelegrin...you betrayed me' / New Year: 'Stand back, stand back' / New Year: Scene 3 - 
'Hand clap him' / New Year: Act 3 Prelude - 'Our world's still wicked'...'When the 
dreaded moment' / New Year: 'Donny, Donny, Nan is here' / New Year: 'That will do 
now' / New Year: Donny's Dream / New Year: 'Pelegrin is here' / New Year: Interlude - 
'Oh, if we could see them in their saucer' / New Year: Scene 2 - 'Dark, dark, dark' / New 
Year: The Paradise Dance / New Year: Interlude - 'Dancers we must hurry, hurry' / New 
Year: Scene 3 - FINALE / New Year: 'Go, go, go'...'Time must stand still'