Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

1:12

Scene 2. Strephon, Dancers

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones

2:39

Scene 5. I alone, cannot consult myself

Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:56

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones, Edward Gardner

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

2:23

Scene 9. O summer sun golden faced glorious globe

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:36

Scene 9. Allegretto non troppo

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

Choir
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Robert Murray

Tenor
English National Opera Chorus

Choir