Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

2022

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

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

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

Susan Bickley, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Rachel Nicholls, Robert Murray, 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

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

1:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:52