For Voices and Instruments
A television recording from the Henry Wood Promenade Concert on 23 July of the European premiere of Sir Michael Tippett's latest work.
Words written and compiled by the composer

The major factor precipitating Tippett toward writing The Mask of Time was the humane vision and imaginative breadth of Jacob Bronowski's television series The Ascent of Man. The Times called the piece: 'A huge audacious paradox... a penetrating vision... sometimes vague and allusive, but always coherent - of alarming richness and depth'. Before the performance Sir Michael talks about the sources and influences of his work with his biographer and assistant Meirion Bowen, who has written '...The Mask of Time is a composition by someone with a profound vision of what is inevitably destroyed and what might survive. It is also a manifestation of musical mastery in its variety of techniques and integrity of language.'

With Faye Robinson (soprano), Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano), Jon Garrison (tenor), John Cheek (bass), BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra, leader Bela Dekany, conducted by Andrew Davis

The performance begins at approximately 8.55 pm

(During the interval Sir Michael Tippett continues his talk with Meirion Bowen)