Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

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

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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 Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

Jennifer France, Toby Spence, 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 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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

Ashley Riches, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

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

Soprano
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir
Jennifer France

Soprano