| Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio | |
| Type: | Live album |
| Artist: | Paul McCartney and Carl Davis |
| Cover: | LiverpoolOratorioCover.jpg |
| Released: | 7 October 1991 (UK) 22 October 1991 (US) |
| Recorded: | 28–29 June 1991 |
| Venue: | Liverpool Cathedral |
| Genre: | Classical, opera |
| Length: | 97:28 |
| Label: | EMI Classics |
| Producer: | John Fraser |
| Chronology: | Paul McCartney |
| Prev Title: | Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) |
| Prev Year: | 1991 |
| Next Title: | Off the Ground |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio is a live album by Paul McCartney and Carl Davis, released in 1991. It is McCartney's first major foray into classical music. Composed in collaboration with Carl Davis to commemorate the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's 150th anniversary, the project received media attention upon its unveiling in June 1991.
This recording was captured at the oratorio's dress rehearsal and premiere at Liverpool Cathedral with McCartney in attendance and features noted professional classical singers Kiri Te Kanawa, Jerry Hadley, Sally Burgess and Willard White re-enacting the roles in the oratorio. The recording was engineered by John Timperley.
Consisting of eight movements, the story of the oratorio loosely follows McCartney's own lifeline, with the main character, Shanty, who is born in 1942 in Liverpool, raised to believe that "being born where you are born carries with it certain responsibilities". After his school days where he often "sagged off" (Liverpool slang for skipping class), Shanty begins working and meets his future bride, Mary Dee. Following the death of his father, Shanty and Mary Dee are married and are forced to deal with the rigours of balancing a happy marriage and their careers. Amid a quarrel, Mary Dee reveals that she is pregnant and after surviving a nearly fatal accident, gives birth to their son. Thus, the cycle of life in Liverpool carries on.
The piece has been performed in concert on several occasions following the June 28, 1991, premiere in Liverpool. The American premiere took place on November 18, 1991, at Carnegie Hall and featured Carl Davis conducting the Liverpool Philharmonic and soloists Barbara Bonney, Sally Burgess, Jerry Hadley, and Willard White. On Oct 24, 1992, the work was presented at the Orange County Performing Arts Center under the baton of William Hall.
Cincinnati Opera has presented a fully-staged production of the oratorio in July 2024.
The commercial reaction for the work was strong, with the oratorio spending many weeks atop the classical charts worldwide, and even charting at number 177 in regular album chart in the US. Critical reaction was mixed. Allan Kozinn, reviewing the Liverpool premiere for the New York Times in June 1991,[1] described the work as "a richly melodic, lavishly orchestrated piece about the loss and reclamation of innocence, love and faith." In particular, Kozinn noted "an exquisite soprano aria" and "a five-minute violin meditation that suggests Mr. McCartney could be a superb concerto composer." Some observed that the work, while attractive, was simplistic, overlong and, given its aspirations, insubstantial.[2] [3] [4]
All pieces by Paul McCartney and Carl Davis. The first four movements are on CD disc one, the second four on disc two.