Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:47

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:39

Scene 5. I alone, cannot consult myself

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:56

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

2:23

Scene 9. O summer sun golden faced glorious globe

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

1:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
Ashley Riches

Vocals
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra