Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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, Joshua Bloom, Susan Bickley, Robert Murray, Edward Gardner

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:49

Pre-scene. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:47

Pre-scene. Crying as they're flying and this is what they say

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

5:36

3rd Dance. The Air in Spring

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:56

Scene 5. You who consult me should never, [never,] doubt me

Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

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 Choir

Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra