Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:10

Scene 2. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:49

Pre-scene. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:47

Pre-scene. Crying as they're flying and this is what they say

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

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, Toby Spence, Edward Gardner, 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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

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

2:39

Scene 5. I alone, cannot consult myself

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:23

Scene 9. O summer sun golden faced glorious globe

London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

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 Choir

Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra
Edward Gardner

Conductor
English National Opera Chorus

Choir