Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

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

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

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 Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

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

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

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

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

1:53

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals
Robert Murray

Tenor
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra