Tippett, Turnage and Vaughan Williams 5

The Concert

An all-British programme of Tippett, Turnage and Vaughan Williams inspired by opera and jazz – including an unmissable world premiere, to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday. 

The Music

Tippett’s ‘Ritual Dances’ are from his ravishing opera The Midsummer Marriage, a work brimming over with mythology, symbolism and psychological journeys.

Turnage has worked with legendary jazz guitarist John Scofield for over two decades, and the world premiere of Sco, a new Guitar Concerto, is a landmark moment in the repertoire – commissioned to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday. 

Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No 5 is one of the composer’s most heartfelt statements, evolving from a wistful opening prelude to a calm, meditative conclusion. 

The Performers

Sir Simon Rattle leads the LSO players across a glorious range of orchestral colours and styles, joined by the legendary John Scofield for a brand new Guitar Concerto. In Rattle’s own words, ‘Who better to be playing this extraordinary British music than the London Symphony Orchestra?’ 

Knowing that Mark-Anthony Turnage’s piece would be very jazzy and very rhythmic, I felt that the extraordinary serenity of the Vaughan Williams would sit well with it, and Tippett’s ‘Ritual Dances’ from The Midsummer Marriage is one of the great British scores, a virtuoso piece.’
Sir Simon Rattle

Commission of Sco– Guitar Concerto generously supported by Susie Thomson

Recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3