Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

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

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

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

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

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

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

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Sophie Goldrick, Robert Winslade Anderson, Joshua Bloom, 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

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

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

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

1:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Robert Murray

Tenor
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra