Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

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, London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

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

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

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

1:53

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
Robert Murray

Tenor
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir