Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:10

Scene 2. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

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, Jennifer France, Toby Spence, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:02

1st Dance. The Earth in Autumn

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

4:07

2nd Dance. The Waters in Winter

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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, 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

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

1:53

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra
Edward Gardner

Conductor
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Ashley Riches

Vocals