Ives and Gershwin: Two Americans in Leicestershire
Sir Michael Tippett had a special relationship with the USA and his music has always been highly valued by American audiences. Charles Ives was one of Tippett’s many influences and he introduced two Ives pieces into the LSSO repertoire – Putnam’s Camp in 1969 and Circus Band in 1970. During these two seasons, Sir Michael also conducted the orchestra in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the distinguished soloists Richard Rodney Bennett (1969) and Frank Wibaut (1970). Bennett joined the LSSO on its 1969 tour and the piece was performed at the Philharmonie in Berlin. Gershwin always came as light relief from the more demanding works of Bliss, Tippett and Hindemith. The two performances included here are both from the 1970 Cheltenham Festival. Circus Band opened the concert in rousing, not to say rowdy, fashion and Gershwin brought it to a close.
Press articles relating to Rhapsody in Blue and Charles Ives can be seen in the reviews section of this website.