As Europe slipped towards Fascism, Michael Tippett felt solidarity with the downtrodden. Then, in 1938,a young Polish Jew, whose parents had been deported by the Nazis, shot a German diplomat in Paris. Tippett had the central figure for his 鈥榦ratorio of contemplation鈥�, A Child of Our Time 鈥� inspired by Bach鈥檚 Passions, Handel鈥檚 Messiah and American spirituals.

Mark Wigglesworth also explores the theme of parent鈥揷hild relationships in the final scene of Wagner鈥檚 opera Die Walk眉re, culminating in Wotan鈥檚 poignant farewell to his daughter.

Please note that Pamela Helen Stephen, the advertised mezzo-soprano, has had to withdraw from tonight鈥檚 performance. The 麻豆官网首页入口 Proms is very grateful to Susan Bickley for taking her place.