The time is 1939. The time could be now. Michael Tippett’s oratorio A Child of Our Time wasn’t simply inspired by social injustice, persecution and conflict, it was written in the midst of these things, and it continues to speak to us across the decades.

A succession of events triggered the creation of this modern classic – composed during World War II – but the most important was the protest-shooting of a German diplomat in Paris by a 17-year-old Jewish boy, Herschel Grynszpan, which became a pretext for the terrible events of Kristallnacht. From this emerged the concept of a passion-oratorio in the tradition of Bach and Handel, but with African-American spirituals taking the place of reflective chorales. The powerful result transforms the story of one individual into a timeless expression of human experience.

A Child of Our Time is close to Brett Weymark’s heart: he conducted it for the 2005 Tippett centenary and in an acclaimed production for the 2021 Adelaide Festival. In this concert, it’s paired with two exciting new works featuring Sydney Philharmonia’s youth choir VOX, conducted by Elizabeth Scott. Alice Chance has written two new works exploring the liturgical setting Agnus Dei: one using a traditional hymn in consultation with the traditional elders of Mer (Murray) Island in the Eastern Torres Strait, the other a setting of the traditional Latin text. VOX and Anna Dowsley also give the first Australian performance of a dramatic cantata by Joanna Marsh – a vibrant work that plays on the twin themes of plastic as pollution and plasticity as a virtue.

Saturday 13 September | 2pm
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
This performance will run for 2 hours, including one 20-minute interval.

FREE PRE-CONCERT TALK

Come to the Northern Foyer at 1.15pm to hear 2MBS Fine Music presenter Tom Forrester-Paton speak with 2025 Conducting Fellow Dr Michael Bradfield about the music in this program. Grab a drink at the bar and enjoy this free, 30-minute talk, with plenty of time to find your seat for the 2pm concert.

Seating is on the carpeted stairs in the Northern Foyer. Some chairs may be available on a first-come basis. Access the Northern Foyer via the new tunnel from the Southern Foyer.

Saturday 13 September: 1:15PM-1:45PM
Concert Hall, Northern Foyer stairs

Media Partner

2025 Pre-Concert Talks are made possible with the support of our media partner, 2MBS Fine Music.