Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

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

1:53

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Robert Murray

Tenor
Ashley Riches

Vocals
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir