Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals; Metamorphic Variations (complete) BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Michael Seal

• Arthur Bliss (1891 - 1975): Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6:
• 1 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: I. Overture 02:43
• 2 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: II. The Street 02:28
• 3 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: III. The Girl Suicide 02:47
• 4 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: IV. The Young Lovers 01:33
• 5 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: V. The Prostitute and the Boy 00:57
• 6 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: VI. The Official 00:55
• 7 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: VII. The Discovery of the Suicide’s body 01:27
• 8 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: VIII. The Suicide’s Body is brought in 02:22
• 9 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: IX. The Stranger 03:03
• 10 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: X. Dance of Deliverance 03:57
• 11 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: XI. The Official and the Prostitute 01:50
• 12 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: XII. Intermezzo 04:49
• 13 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: XIII. The Slander Campaign 01:34
• 14 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: XIV. The Conversion of the Prostitute 01:56
• 15 Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals, F 6: XV. Finale. The Killing of the Stranger 04:17
• Metamorphic Variations, F 122:
• 16 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: I. Elements. Larghetto tranquillo 03:30
• 17 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: II. Ballet. One in a bar 01:30
• 18 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: III. Assertion. Allegro energico 02:04
• 19 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: [IIIb]. Contrasts. Very slow 02:52
• 20 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: [IIIc]. Children’s March. Alla marcia 02:23
• 21 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: IV. Speculation. Very slow 02:04
• 22 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: V. Interjections. Andante sostenuto 04:00
• 23 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: VI. Scherzo 1. Vivo 02:36
• 24 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: VII. Contemplation. Larghetto 02:17
• 25 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: VIII. Polonaise. Alla polacca 03:29
• 26 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: IX. Funeral Processions. Larghetto 04:03
• 27 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: X. Cool Interlude. Andante molto tranquillo 02:52
• 28 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: XI. Scherzo 2. Vivo 01:42
• 29 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: XII. Duet. Pochissimo più mosso 02:38
• 30 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: XIII. Dedication to G.D. and A.D. Allegro moderato 00:48
• 31 Bliss: Metamorphic Variations, F 122: XIV. Affirmation. Andante maestoso 04:18
• Total Runtime 01:19:44

Info zu Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals; Metamorphic Variations (complete)

„Miracle in the Gorbals“ wird heute vielleicht von seinem früheren Ballett „Checkmate“ in den Schatten gestellt, war aber ein Riesenerfolg für Bliss und das Sadler’s Wells Ballet. Es wurde 1944 uraufgeführt und bis 1950 in jeder Spielzeit wiederholt. Das Ballett basiert auf einem Szenario von Michael Benthall (inspiriert von Jerome K. Jerome und Dostojewski) und zeigt die Erscheinung einer Christus-ähnlichen Gestalt inmitten von Glasgows berüchtigtstem Slum. Dieser mysteriöse Fremde vollbringt ein Wunder und erweckt das Mädchen Suicide wieder zum Leben, das sich zuvor aus Verzweiflung in den Clyde gestürzt hatte. Die Einheimischen jubeln, aber ein Beamter (Benthall hatte einen Priester im Sinn) ist eifersüchtig und lässt den Fremden, nachdem sein Versuch, über die örtliche Prostituierte Zweifel an seiner Tugend zu säen, gescheitert ist, von einer Rasiermesserbande niedermetzeln. Bliss’ Partitur verwendet ein breites Spektrum an Stilen und harmonischer Sprache und nutzt auch Leitmotive für die Hauptfiguren. Ursprünglich als „Variationen für Orchester“ betitelt, komponierte Bliss die Metamorphischen Variationen gegen Ende seines Lebens, während einer späten Schaffensphase. Zwei der sechzehn Sätze wurden vor der Uraufführung (durch das LSO und Vernon Handley 1973) gestrichen und aus irgendeinem Grund bei keiner der späteren Aufführungen des Werks wieder aufgenommen, bis zu der Aufführung durch Michael Seal und das BBC Philharmonic Orchestra im Februar 2025, einen Tag vor dieser Aufnahme.

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Seal, Dirigent

Michael Seal
has worked with many of the UK’s finest orchestras, and his in-depth knowledge of orchestras from an insider’s position (he was a violinist with the CBSO early in his career) gives him a unique perspective and allows him to quickly build rapport and trust with the orchestras he works with. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and he has built a reputation for delivering outstanding results with great charm — often on a typically British tight rehearsal schedule.

Since 2005, he has conducted the CBSO over 300 times as either Assistant or Associate Conductor, including his conducting debut at the BBC Proms in 2023 with the Proms’ first ever Bollywood concert.

Michael is frequently invited as guest conductor with all five BBC orchestras, as well as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Ulster Orchestra.

Internationally, he has conducted the Brussels Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Joensuu City Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Académica del Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón, Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, both RTÉ Concert and National Symphony Orchestras and the WDR Funkhausorchester Köln.

Michael has a special bond with the CBSO Youth Orchestra, conducting them on numerous occasions and being involved with them since their foundation. He is also Artistic Advisor and Conductor of the CBSO Youth Orchestra Academy, a chamber orchestra formed in 2007.

His love of opera has led to critically acclaimed performances of Puccini’s Il Trittico at Birmingham Conservatoire. He has also assisted both Sakari Oramo and Andris Nelsons in opera performances of Peter Grimes, Carmen, Der Rosenkavalier, Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde, and The Flying Dutchman. Michael is also a champion of lesser-known British composers such as Bantock, Bax, and York Bowen, as well as film music.

During the global pandemic of 2020-21, Michael launched his podcast a mic on the podium, a weekly interview with another prominent conductor. The podcast has been highly successful, gaining rave reviews and — thanks to its unique format — it has been added to the National Sound Archive at the British Library. In 2025, his recording of Adrian Sutton’s Violin Concerto with Fenella Humphreys and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Premiere Award.

This season sees him return to Brussels Philharmonic, Kuopio Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and WDR Funkhaus orchestras. He will make his debut in 2025/26 with Orquestra do Algarve, Bath Philharmonia, Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Beethoven Orchester Bonn. Following a successful debut with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester in June 2025, he was immediately invited to conduct them again in June 2027. He will also make his debut with the Belgian National Orchestra in January 2027.

Booklet für Bliss: Miracle in the Gorbals; Metamorphic Variations (complete)