Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

English National Opera Chorus, Rachel Nicholls, Robert Murray, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France

2022

Modelled on Mozart’s The Magic Flute, the English composer Michael Tippett’s 1955 opera, The Midsummer Marriage, has confounded some and delighted many in its playful mix of myth, Jungian psychology and sexual symbolism. It leaps joyfully off the page in this live recording made at London’s Royal Festival Hall in 2021. Conductor Edward Gardner is the energising presence, delighting in Tippett’s ravishingly detailed orchestration and drawing vividly committed performances from the singers. Among these, the tenor Robert Murray excels as Mark, while Toby Spence and soprano Jennifer France catch Tippett’s sense of humour winningly in Act II’s conclusion. Tinglingly alive in every bar, Gardner’s interpretation fully vindicates the quirkiness and optimism of Tippett’s vision.

Scene 1. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

Susan Bickley, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Murray, Joshua Bloom

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

Robert Murray, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

Ashley Riches, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Rachel Nicholls, London Philharmonic Choir, Robert Murray, English National Opera Chorus

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

Ashley Riches, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Susan Bickley, English National Opera Chorus, Jennifer France, Joshua Bloom

4:47

Scene 6. Start

Ashley Riches, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

2:49

Scene 6. So you, so you, so you're the company my daughter keeps

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, Ashley Riches

1:51

Scene 7. King Fisher, Jack, Bella, Chorus, Sosostris

Edward Gardner, Jennifer France, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Toby Spence, Ashley Riches, English National Opera Chorus

8:28

Scene 8. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, Ashley Riches, English National Opera Chorus

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

Robert Murray, Ashley Riches, Joshua Bloom, Rachel Nicholls, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Bickley, Edward Gardner

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Ashley Riches, Joshua Bloom, Rachel Nicholls, English National Opera Chorus

6:10

Scene 8. You, you who were with me when she left me

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Robert Murray, English National Opera Chorus

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

Edward Gardner, Ashley Riches, Robert Murray, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Rachel Nicholls, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus

0:49

Pre-scene. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:47

Pre-scene. Crying as they're flying and this is what they say

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, Toby Spence, Jennifer France

5:04

Scene 1. I'll lay the baby to my breast and rock it

Toby Spence, Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennifer France, Toby Spence

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:02

1st Dance. The Earth in Autumn

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

4:07

2nd Dance. The Waters in Winter

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Toby Spence, Jennifer France, Edward Gardner

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:20

Start

London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:54

Scene 1. Chorus, Half-Tipsy Man, A Dancing Man, King Fisher

John Findon, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Paul Sheehan, Edward Gardner, Ashley Riches, English National Opera Chorus

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

Edward Gardner, Ashley Riches, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

Joshua Bloom, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Susan Bickley, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ashley Riches, English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner

2:53

Scene 5. Who hopes to conjure with the world of dreams

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones

2:39

Scene 5. I alone, cannot consult myself

Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:56

Scene 5. You who consult me should never, [never,] doubt me

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

Ashley Riches, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:24

Scene 6. King Fisher, Bella, Jack, Chorus, Sosostris

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Choir, Toby Spence, London Philharmonic Orchestra

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

Susan Bickley, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Joshua Bloom, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches, London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner

3:33

Scene 8. Start

Edward Gardner, Susan Bickley, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Joshua Bloom, Robert Winslade Anderson, Sophie Goldrick, English National Opera Chorus

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

Edward Gardner, Rachel Nicholls, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Bickley, Robert Murray, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus

5:23

Scene 9. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

2:23

Scene 9. O summer sun golden faced glorious globe

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Toby Spence, London Philharmonic Choir, Joshua Bloom, Susan Bickley, Jennifer France, Rachel Nicholls, Robert Murray, Claire Barnett-Jones, English National Opera Chorus

1:53

Scene 9. Piu mosso alla breve - fall and are built again

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Robert Murray

Tenor
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir