Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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 Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus, 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!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

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

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

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

Jennifer France, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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

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, Jennifer France, Toby Spence

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:56

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

Claire Barnett-Jones, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Ashley Riches

Vocals
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir