The Operas of Michael Tippett - English National Opera Guide 29 (includes libretti)

Although it is impossible to trace any one particular theme running through the operas of Michael Tippett, the libretti of his four operas are fascinating to compare

The dense allusions of The Midsummer Marriage (1955), here annotated, gave way to the classical formality of King Priam (1962); the psycho-analytical preoccupations of The Knot Garden (1970) hardly foreshadow the contemporary political commentary of The Ice Break (1977)

Each work breaks new ground and provokes unexpected responses

The libretti offer unique introductions to the music

They incidentally throw a searching light on the direction of British theatre since 1945

REVIEWS

'Brilliantly produced and superb value' ~ Sunday Times

'All these will provide the new opera-goer with food for thought' ~ Daily Telegraph

'Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series' ~ TLS