Catch up TV

Episode 21 July 2024

The latest in John Bridcut’s collection of award-winning films about British composers features the life and music of Sir Michael Tippett, who died 25 years ago in 1998.\n\nFor many years, Tippett dominated the contemporary classical music scene in the UK. His life spanned almost the whole of the 20th century, and embraced many of the social issues of his time, from pacifism to homosexuality. His most popular work, the oratorio A Child of Our Time, made his name in 1944. Provoked by Kristallnacht – the 1938 Nazi-led pogrom against German Jews – it continues to speak powerfully about refugees and persecution.\n\nThis performance-based documentary features extracts from the full range of Tippett’s music, specially filmed in Glasgow with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Bearsden Choir.

Source: BBC 2