Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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 Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:56

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

Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

1:53

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
Ashley Riches

Vocals
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Robert Murray

Tenor
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra