Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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, Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

Orchestra
Edward Gardner

Conductor
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Jennifer France

Soprano