Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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 Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

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
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Robert Murray

Tenor
Jennifer France

Soprano