Sir Arthur Bliss, "The Beatitudes" and other Cantatas

[Dundonnell]

In the early 1960s Sir Arthur Bliss wrote three substantial Cantatas involving chorus and orchestra. These have been almost completely ignored and certainly none has been recorded commercially.

The second and third of these are:

1963: "Mary of Magdala" for contralto, bass, chorus and orchestra

1964: "The Golden Cantata" for tenor, mixed chorus and orchestra

The first however was "The Beatitudes" for soprano, tenor, chorus, organ and orchestra composed in 1962 for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral. Tragically, the work was not performed in the Cathedral but in a theatre in Coventry on the evening of the day of the consecration. It was, in fact, completely overshadowed by Britten's War Requiem, which was also composed for the occasion and was given in the cathedral.

Since then Bliss's Cantata has never been performed in Coventry Cathedral let alone recorded.

However (and in fact the reason why this is a separate thread ) is that "The Beatitudes" will finally be given in the place for which it was intended on 22nd September next year with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra under Paul Daniel and the performance will be broadcast on BBC 3.

http://www.arthurbliss.org/CoventryBeatitudes.htm

This will be an event of considerable importance for British Choral Music and certainly a performance to record

[albion]

Thanks for this advance note about the Coventry performance next year, Colin! Yes, the major choral works from Bliss' later career have been sadly neglected and it would be wonderful to hear them again.

There are at least the following broadcasts which might be out there somewhere -

The Golden Cantata - Huddersfield Choral Society/ BBC Northern SO/ Arthur Bliss (br. 2/10/1966)

The Beatitudes - Bach Choir/ LPO/ David Willcocks (br. 11/12/1991)

[Dundonnell]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/July12/Bliss_Beatitudes.htm