Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, London Philharmonic Choir, Ashley Riches, 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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

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

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

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

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…

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

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

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

5:04

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

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

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

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, Edward Gardner, Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Orchestra

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, 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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

Tenor
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals