Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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 Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

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

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

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

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:56

Scene 5. You who consult me should never, [never,] doubt me

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

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
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Jennifer France

Soprano
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra