Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, 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

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

1:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals
Robert Murray

Tenor