Thanks Tinners, I have that  Ice Break about somewhere, must try and dig it out. Great sense of pace about it as I recall, and the piece itself moves incredibly fast. Hickox doesnt for me have the edge and pace the`later work seems to need. (Charles Groves did a blinding 4th symphony very late in life I remember). Bit off-topic, but Sondheim's Assassins, similarly express dramuturgy, is on at Landor Theatre SW4 (still I hope). Thanks for ENO guide reccomendation, on my wish list. Congrats on the Judith Weir
notes. Ron, Many Thanks in advance for the possible PM...

I'd agree absolutely about Hickox's incompatibilty with much of Tippett's music, and not just the later works: his handling of Midsummer Marriage at the Garden in 2005 was hugely disappointing: totally devoid of magic, ecstasy or rhythmic spring. Groves, after his heart op. was a new man - tucked away in the Dough archive is a live Mask of Time he did at Liverpool, perfectly paced throughout: other conductors whom I've heard achieving marvels with Tippett's music include the obvious Davis, C and Atherton, Raymond Leppard (a formidable third symphony with Barstow as soloist, briefly available on a BBC CD) and more recently Ed Gardner, whose last minute take-over of the pitfall-strewn second at Aldeburgh a couple of years back was astonishingly assured and convincing.