Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:10

Scene 2. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

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

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

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:39

Scene 5. I alone, cannot consult myself

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

2:23

Scene 9. O summer sun golden faced glorious globe

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

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
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano