Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

3:40

Scene 2. Alla marcia. Andante

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

0:48

Scene 3. Mark, Chorus

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

4:34

Scene 4. Mark, Jenifer, Chorus

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

2:49

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

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

London Philharmonic Choir, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

0:41

Scene 1. Start

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

5:04

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

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

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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

3:41

Scene 3. Bella, Jack

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

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

3:49

Scene 2. King Fisher, Chorus

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

2:28

Scene 3. King Fisher, Bella, Ancients

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

3:19

Scene 4. Chorus

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

3:35

Scene 5. Start

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

2:53

Scene 5. Who hopes to conjure with the world of dreams

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones, 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

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, Claire Barnett-Jones

3:28

Scene 5. I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

5:23

Scene 9. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, 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

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra

2:20

Scene 9. Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling

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

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 Orchestra

Orchestra
Edward Gardner

Conductor
English National Opera Chorus

Choir
Rachel Nicholls

Soprano