Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

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!

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

Joshua Bloom, Susan Bickley, Jennifer France, 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

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

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

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, Claire Barnett-Jones, Ashley Riches

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

1:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Robert Murray

Tenor
Ashley Riches

Vocals
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir