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This concert recording of Michael Tippett's first opera, The Midsummer Marriage, marks the beginning of Edward Gardner's tenure as Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). This recording of the English composer’s ‘early period’ masterpiece is the first to be made commercially available in over fifty years. It took place in London at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, in 2021, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
‘Clearly inspired by The Magic Flute, with its opposition of two contrasting couples, one aspiring to the ultimate truth, the other preferring to settle for a more mundane existence, this opera is characterised by the vitality [of Tippett's music], inexhaustible lyrical invention, virtuoso orchestral writing and great rhythmic power,’ says Polish critic Piotr Kaminski.
Consistent with Tippett's pacifist political convictions, this work, conceived from 1940 onwards, sounds like a declaration of hope and reconciliation. Premiered in 1955, it’s both brilliant and optimistic, celebrating human community and the regeneration of society after the horrors of war. However, its Jungian philosophy and socialist idealism are challenging to stage. Half oratorio, half opera, the work is beautifully performed here in concert with the excellent English Opera Chorus, a major contributor to the opera. The principal architect of this success is Edward Gardner, who conducts the LPO with great finesse, lightening the textures of this dense contrapuntal music. The rather disparate cast is dominated by Jennifer France (Bella) and Toby Spence (Jack), who are particularly at ease in the role of the Mozart couple, reminiscent of Papageno and Papagena.
This new complete recording truly does justice to Tippett's magical opera. © François Hudry/Qobuz
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London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - Claire Barnett-Jones, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
DISC 2
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
DISC 3
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - John Findon, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Paul Sheehan, MainArtist, VocalSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Claire Barnett-Jones, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Claire Barnett-Jones, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Claire Barnett-Jones, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - Claire Barnett-Jones, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Ashley Riches, MainArtist, VocalSolo - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals - Robert Winslade Anderson, MainArtist, BassVocals - Sophie Goldrick, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Toby Spence, MainArtist, TenorSolo - London Philharmonic Choir, Choir, MainArtist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Susan Bickley, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer - Claire Barnett-Jones, MainArtist, MezzoSopranoVocals - English National Opera Chorus, Choir, MainArtist - Robert Murray, MainArtist, TenorSolo - Rachel Nicholls, MainArtist, SopranoSolo - Joshua Bloom, MainArtist, BassVocals - Jennifer France, MainArtist, SopranoSolo
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Edward Gardner, Conductor, MainArtist - Michael Tippett, Composer
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
Album review
This concert recording of Michael Tippett's first opera, The Midsummer Marriage, marks the beginning of Edward Gardner's tenure as Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). This recording of the English composer’s ‘early period’ masterpiece is the first to be made commercially available in over fifty years. It took place in London at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, in 2021, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
‘Clearly inspired by The Magic Flute, with its opposition of two contrasting couples, one aspiring to the ultimate truth, the other preferring to settle for a more mundane existence, this opera is characterised by the vitality [of Tippett's music], inexhaustible lyrical invention, virtuoso orchestral writing and great rhythmic power,’ says Polish critic Piotr Kaminski.
Consistent with Tippett's pacifist political convictions, this work, conceived from 1940 onwards, sounds like a declaration of hope and reconciliation. Premiered in 1955, it’s both brilliant and optimistic, celebrating human community and the regeneration of society after the horrors of war. However, its Jungian philosophy and socialist idealism are challenging to stage. Half oratorio, half opera, the work is beautifully performed here in concert with the excellent English Opera Chorus, a major contributor to the opera. The principal architect of this success is Edward Gardner, who conducts the LPO with great finesse, lightening the textures of this dense contrapuntal music. The rather disparate cast is dominated by Jennifer France (Bella) and Toby Spence (Jack), who are particularly at ease in the role of the Mozart couple, reminiscent of Papageno and Papagena.
This new complete recording truly does justice to Tippett's magical opera. © François Hudry/Qobuz
About the album
- 3 disc(s) - 49 track(s)
- Total length: 02:38:09
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Edward Gardner London Philharmonic Orchestra Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra English National Opera Chorus
- Composer: Sir Michael Tippett
- Label: London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Genre: Classical Opera
2022 London Philharmonic Orchestra Ltd 2022 BBC
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