A Child of Our Time - INSCRIBED TO A SINGER AT THE PREMIER

Born in 1922 Beal fled her native Germany in 1939, studying music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before singing professionally in concerts and opera, and teaching at Morley College whose choir took part in the premier of Tippett’s masterpiece, A Child of Our Time.

Tippett’s inscription is in black biro and he writes of a ‘memory of the v first performance’ which suggests that this inscription was made somewhat later than the premier itself which took place in 1944.

DESCRIPTION: Blue paper covered boards; upper hinge between paper overlay and spine separated, not affecting integrity of binding. Stiff printed paper wrapper bound in with ‘Hilde Beal’ above title. Tippett’s inscription to the title page and Beal’s annotations against the soprano solos and chorus Spirituals overleaf. No further annotations to the text.