Dive into the enchanting world of Michael Tippett's "The Midsummer Marriage," a captivating opera that has been beautifully captured in this live recording. Released on September 23, 2022, by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, this neoclassical masterpiece spans over two hours and thirty-eight minutes, offering an immersive experience of Tippett's unique musical vision.
"The Midsummer Marriage" is an opera in three acts, with both the music and libretto penned by the renowned composer Michael Tippett. This live recording features a stellar cast, including Robert Murray as Mark and Rachel Nicholls as Jenifer, who bring depth and nuance to their roles. The opera's first performance was at Covent Garden on January 27, 1955, and this recording marks the first new release of the work in over fifty years.
Conductor Edward Gardner masterfully captures the overflowing exuberance of Tippett's score, with Toby Spence and Jennifer France delivering exceptional performances as Jack and Bella. The album features 49 tracks, each meticulously crafted to showcase the opera's rich tapestry of sound and storytelling.
From the opening notes to the final crescendo, "The Midsummer Marriage" is a testament to Tippett's genius, blending neoclassical elements with a unique lyrical style. The opera's themes of love, transformation, and the cyclical nature of life are beautifully conveyed through Tippett's evocative music and poetic libretto.
This live recording is not just an album but a journey through Tippett's musical landscape, offering a fresh perspective on a classic work. Whether you are a longtime fan of Tippett's music or a newcomer to his compositions, this recording is sure to captivate and inspire.
Tracks
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 1: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 1: What's that? Surely music? - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 2: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 2: Stop! Stop, stop! - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Murray, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 2: Alla marcia. Andante - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 3: Mark, Chorus - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 4: Mark, Jenifer, Chorus - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 5: King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 6: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 6: So you, so you, so you're the company my daughter keeps - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 7: King Fisher, Jack, Bella, Chorus, Sosostris - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France, Toby Spence, Claire Barnett-Jones
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: Returning to the earth is cruel - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Ashley Riches, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: Is it so strange… - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Rachel Nicholls, Ashley Riches, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: You, you who were with me when she left me - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: As stallions stamping the young men dance - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: See by a heavenly magic… - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: We are the laughing children - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Pre-scene: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Pre-scene: Crying as they're flying and this is what they say - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 1: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Jennifer France, Toby Spence
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 1: I'll lay the baby to my breast and rock it - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennifer France, Toby Spence
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 1: Come within the shadow of the wood - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennifer France, Toby Spence
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 2: Strephon, Dancers - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II 1st Dance: The Earth in Autumn - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II 2nd Dance: The Waters in Winter - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II 3rd Dance: The Air in Spring - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 3: Bella, Jack - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennifer France, Toby Spence
The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Post-Scene: Chorus offstage - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 1: Chorus, Half-Tipsy Man, A Dancing Man, King Fisher - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches, John Findon, Paul Sheehan
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 2: King Fisher, Chorus - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 3: King Fisher, Bella, Ancients - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 4: Chorus - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: Who hopes to conjure with the world of dreams - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: I alone, cannot consult myself - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: You who consult me should never, [never,] doubt me - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claire Barnett-Jones
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ashley Riches, Claire Barnett-Jones
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 6: King Fisher, Bella, Jack, Chorus, Sosostris - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches, Jennifer France, Toby Spence
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 7: Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Ashley Riches, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 8: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom, Robert Winslade Anderson, Sophie Goldrick
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 8: Poco meno mosso - Fire! Fire! - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III 4th Dance: Fire in Summer - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Susan Bickley
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Start - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: O summer sun golden faced glorious globe - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Allegretto non troppo - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus, Robert Murray, Rachel Nicholls, Jennifer France, Toby Spence, Claire Barnett-Jones, Susan Bickley, Joshua Bloom
The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Piu mosso alla breve - fall and are built again - LiveMichael Tippett, Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra
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