Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, 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!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

Edward Gardner, Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Orchestra, 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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

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

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:56

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

Choir
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano