Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus – Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live) (2022) [FLAC 24bit/48kHz]

Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus – Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage (Live) (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 02:38:09 minutes | 1,54 GB | Genre: Classical, Opera
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © London Philharmonic Orchestra

This is the first commercially available recording of Tippett’s first opera in over 50 years, recorded in a landmark performance conducted by Tippett enthusiast Edward Gardner. Performed at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, this performance was a thrilling start to Edward Gardner’s tenure as Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.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

Tracklist:

1-01. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 1: Start (Live) (03:49)
1-02. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 1: What’s that? Surely music? (Live) (01:10)
1-03. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 2: Start (Live) (01:29)
1-04. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 2: Stop! Stop, stop! (Live) (03:40)
1-05. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 2: Alla marcia. Andante (Live) (00:48)
1-06. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 3: Mark, Chorus (Live) (04:34)
1-07. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 4: Mark, Jenifer, Chorus (Live) (07:05)
1-08. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 5: King Fisher, Bella, Chorus, Ancients (Live) (04:47)
1-09. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 6: Start (Live) (02:49)
1-10. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 6: So you, so you, so you’re the company my daughter keeps (Live) (01:51)
1-11. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 7: King Fisher, Jack, Bella, Chorus, Sosostris (Live) (08:28)
1-12. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: Start (Live) (01:10)
1-13. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: Returning to the earth is cruel (Live) (06:21)
1-14. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: Is it so strange… (Live) (06:10)
1-15. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: You, you who were with me when she left me (Live) (02:21)
1-16. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: As stallions stamping the young men dance (Live) (01:55)
1-17. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: See by a heavenly magic… (Live) (03:50)
1-18. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act I Scene 8: We are the laughing children (Live) (00:49)
2-01. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Pre-scene: Start (Live) (01:47)
2-02. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Pre-scene: Crying as they’re flying and this is what they say (Live) (00:41)
2-03. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 1: Start (Live) (05:04)
2-04. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 1: I’ll lay the baby to my breast and rock it (Live) (01:36)
2-05. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 1: Come within the shadow of the wood (Live) (01:12)
2-06. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 2: Strephon, Dancers (Live) (03:02)
2-07. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II 1st Dance: The Earth in Autumn (Live) (04:07)
2-08. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II 2nd Dance: The Waters in Winter (Live) (05:36)
2-09. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II 3rd Dance: The Air in Spring (Live) (03:41)
2-10. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Scene 3: Bella, Jack (Live) (06:26)
2-11. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act II Post-Scene: Chorus offstage (Live) (01:20)
3-01. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III: Start (Live) (00:54)
3-02. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 1: Chorus, Half-Tipsy Man, A Dancing Man, King Fisher (Live) (03:49)
3-03. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 2: King Fisher, Chorus (Live) (02:28)
3-04. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 3: King Fisher, Bella, Ancients (Live) (03:19)
3-05. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 4: Chorus (Live) (03:35)
3-06. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: Start (Live) (02:53)
3-07. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: Who hopes to conjure with the world of dreams (Live) (02:39)
3-08. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: I alone, cannot consult myself (Live) (03:56)
3-09. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: You who consult me should never, [never,] doubt me (Live) (03:28)
3-10. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 5: I see a meadow, fragrant with flowers (Live) (02:24)
3-11. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 6: King Fisher, Bella, Jack, Chorus, Sosostris (Live) (05:24)
3-12. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 7: Ancients, King Fisher, Chorus (Live) (03:33)
3-13. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 8: Start (Live) (03:04)
3-14. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 8: Poco meno mosso – Fire! Fire! (Live) (01:38)
3-15. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III 4th Dance: Fire in Summer (Live) (05:23)
3-16. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Start (Live) (02:23)
3-17. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: O summer sun golden faced glorious globe (Live) (01:36)
3-18. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Allegretto non troppo (Live) (02:20)
3-19. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Jenifer, Jenifer, my darling (Live) (01:53)
3-20. Edward Gardner – The Midsummer Marriage, Act III Scene 9: Piu mosso alla breve – fall and are built again (Live) (03:52)

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