Sir Andrew Davis conducts A Child of Our Time

Tippett’s A Child of Our Time begins in sorrow: “The world turns on its dark side. It is winter.” Composed at the start of the Second World War but provoked by decades of intolerance, Tippett’s “modern oratorio” is built around the soul-shaking melodies of African-American spirituals. But the human spirit is unbreakable, and this great British choral masterpiece is anything but a counsel of despair.

Sir Andrew Davis understands that; and after a lifetime championing British music, there are few artists better equipped than our Conductor Laureate to bring out Tippett’s boundless optimism as well as his burning sorrow. The BBC Symphony Chorus is joined by a truly exceptional team of soloists, and it all begins with a great leap of hope and joy: the ever-fresh Concerto for Double String Orchestra.