AMATEUR MUSIC REVIEW: A Child Of Our Time - Whitworth Hall, The University, Manchester.

After a long two-year absence, Manchester University Music Society were back with their combined forces of both choruses and orchestra at the Whitworth Hall, housed in the main Victorian university building on Oxford Road. And just as it took Tippett a long time to wait after writing to see the work's premiere, it must also have felt a little similar for the student performers... however, it is also true to say that on both occasions, it was very much worth the wait.

The performing of Tippett's oratorio, 'A Child Of Our Time' could hardly seem more relevant at the moment. His work was written between 1939 and 1941, as a passionate reaction against the Nazi German treatment of Jews during the Second World War; their introduction of pogroms, in particular the infamous Kristallnacht; and on a more universal scale, a riling against racism in all its forms. It is a cry for peace and brotherhood, as his highly personal and emotional work tries to speak about the oppression of all peoples, and is his personal pacifisct crie-de-coeur to humanity for understanding and reconcilliation.

Our conductor, Robert Guy, spoke a few words at the start of the concert, referencing of course the troubles that Ukraine are experiencing at the moment, thus we started the evening with a hymn, absolutely beautifully performed, which was dedicated to their plight. 

This was followed by a short work for orchestra by student composer Murrough Connolly entitled, 'Litmus Paper'. The music looks at four colours: cadmium orange, permanent green, indigo, and coral red; and the programme notes for this piece go on to explain that Connolly was hoping to put down in music the way one may feel or react to each particular colour in their visual manifestations. Listening to the piece this evening, and without having read the above, I was hearing the wind and nature at play. It started, for me, with a light breeze (string section) before the horns jump in signalling a storm ahead. The music becomes quite turbulent and this is our tempest, and even as the storm subsides, there are still some black clouds which continue to linger and rumble, before a more Autumnal melody takes over. A single note fanfare signals the end of the bad weather; the dark clouds grumble and disappear, and the piece diminuendos to a peaceful end. This evening, 'Litmus Paper' was conducted by another university student. Sadly her name is unknown, apologies.

And so to the title work of this evening's programme. As I have already mentioned, 'A Child Of Our Time' is a pacifist manifesto, and it is hard not to see and hear Tippett's passion throughout this work. The oratorio, written in the Baroque style, is in three parts using recitatives, arias, and of course full choruses. Instead of the usual chorales, typical of Bach for example, Tippett replaces these with African-American spirituals and gospel songs. A very canny, and indeed aurally pleasing choice. 

Robert Guy was back on the conductor's podium, whilst the four soloists this evening were also students at the university. Soprano, Katherine Macauley; contralto, Toluwani Idowu; tenor Benedict Parker; and bass, Dominic Carver.

The oratorio lasts just over an hour, and was indeed a most intelligent and thoughtful rendition. Particular highlights in this performance for me were the choruses of, 'Nobody Knows The Troubles', 'Go Down Moses', and 'Oh By And By'. In fact the chorus sounded superb and lush throughout. The harmonies divine and the swells were handled beautifully. The balance of sound between the four sections was excellent, although, as is usually the case, the altos did sometimes get drowned out on the louder passages by the sopranos. 

The four soloists were all excellent. Macaulay's many high notes handled with seeming ease; covering them with aplomb and not allowing her voice to become "screechy" (a failing in many a soprano, and why I am not particularly a fan of this vocal range); whilst both Parker and Carver displayed their ability at vocal projection and clear articulation with accomplished elan. Idowu's smoky-coloured voice was mellow and lovely to listen to, however, seated where I was at the rear of the auditorium, I had some difficulty in understanding her, and she needed to be a tad louder at times too. 

I enjoyed the extended denuement as the timpani has a simple single beat allowing the voices and orchestra to fill the soundscape with undulating motifs ending, hymn-like, with a ppp, "Lord we're in your hands now". 

A wonderful concert, once again showcasing the skill and talent that lies in abundance within the music department at Manchester university.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 12/3/22