Release date: 14 March 2025
The first 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 fills 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.
Rhian Lois soprano
Ross Ramgobin baritone
Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano
Roland Wood baritone
Robert Murray tenor
Rachel Nicholls soprano
Alan Oke tenor
BBC Singers
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins conductor
FUNDERS
NMC Recordings is a charitable company (reg. no. 328052) established for the recording of contemporary music by the Holst Foundation; it is grateful for funding from Arts Council England and The Delius Trust.
The BBC would like to thank:
Michael Tippett Musical Foundation
Sally Groves in memory of Dennis Marks
Behrens Foundation
Dr John Grimshaw
Anthony Whitworth-Jones
Martyn Brabbins
Catalogue number: NMC D291