Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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?

London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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, London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

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

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

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

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, 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, Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Edward Gardner

2:23

Scene 9. O summer sun golden faced glorious globe

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

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
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals