Leeds Festival Chorus joins forces with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Tippett’s A Child of our Time at Leeds Town Hall on Saturday 12 March.
With an overriding message of peace, Tippett’s A Child of our Time was written in reaction to the Nazi persecution of Jews. Tippett shaped the work into three parts, explaining: “Part I…deals with the general state of oppression. Part II presents the particular story of a young man’s attempt to seek justice by violence and the catastrophic consequences; and Part III considers the moral to be drawn, if any”. The piece also features five American spiritual songs, including Steal Away and Deep River, the composer felt that the songs of slavery had a universal message, reflecting oppressed people across the world.
Under the baton of conductor Simon Wright, Leeds Festival Chorus and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra are joined by world-renowned soloists Rebecca Evans (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo soprano), Ben Johnson (tenor) and James Rutherford (bass). The concert also features the versatile violinist Leticia Moreno performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, considered to be one of the greatest violin concertos of all time!
Leeds Festival Chorus is a chorus singing to professional standards with 150 performing members. It presents classical choral music in Yorkshire and elsewhere in Britain, including at the London Proms and Manchester Arena. The choir has worked with the English Chamber Orchestra, The Hallé, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, and Northern Sinfonia and has also broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3. Festival commissions or premieres include A Sea Symphony (Vaughan Williams), Belshazzar’s Feast (Walton), Choral Symphony (Holst), The Fall of Jerusalem (Muldowney) and works by Dvorák and Elgar.
This evening’s conductor, Simon Wright, was born in Sunderland and educated at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music. As a teenager he often worked with Sir John Barbirolli as an accompanist of the Hallé Choir. He has conducted many orchestral and choral premieres, worked with most of the major UK orchestras and regularly conducts internationally. His performances and recordings continue to attract much critical acclaim.
Tickets are priced £16.50 – £33.50 and are available from the Box Office on 0113 376 0318
