Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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, Robert Murray, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

Ashley Riches, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, 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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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

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

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

Tenor
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra
Edward Gardner

Conductor