Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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?

Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:10

Scene 2. Start

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

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, Toby Spence, Edward Gardner, Jennifer France

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, 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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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, 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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

1:53

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:52

Sir Michael Tippett

Composer
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano
Robert Murray

Tenor
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra