Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live)

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

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 Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

3:49

Scene 1. What's that? Surely music?

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, English National Opera Chorus

1:10

Scene 2. Start

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner

1:29

Scene 2. Stop! Stop, stop!

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

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

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

7:05

Scene 5. King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients

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

4:47

Scene 6. Start

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

1:51

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

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

8:28

Scene 8. Start

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

1:10

Scene 8. Returning to the earth is cruel

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

6:21

Scene 8. Is it so strange…

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

6:10

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

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

2:21

Scene 8. As stallions stamping the young men dance

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

1:55

Scene 8. See by a heavenly magic…

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

3:50

Scene 8. We are the laughing children

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

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

5:04

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

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

1:36

Scene 1. Come within the shadow of the wood

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

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, Toby Spence, Jennifer France

6:26

Post-Scene. Chorus offstage

London Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Choir

1:20

Start

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

0:54

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

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

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

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

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

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

2:24

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

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

5:24

Scene 7. Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus

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

3:33

Scene 8. Start

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

3:04

Scene 8. Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire!

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

1:38

4th Dance. Fire in Summer

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

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

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

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
London Philharmonic Choir

Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Orchestra