Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

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!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:02

1st Dance. The Earth in Autumn

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

4:07

2nd Dance. The Waters in Winter

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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, Edward Gardner, 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

Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Toby Spence, Edward Gardner, Joshua Bloom, Susan Bickley, Rachel Nicholls, London Philharmonic Choir, Claire Barnett-Jones, Jennifer France, Robert Murray, 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
Ashley Riches

Vocals
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra
Edward Gardner

Conductor
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano