Lyrita
Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage / Davis, Herincx, Et Al
$37.99
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Details
- Composer
- SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT
- Artist
- Covent Garden, Sir Colin Davis
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Lyrita
- Released
- Oct 01, 2006
- Catalog #
- SRCD2217
- UPC
- 5020926221728
About
It is as though Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire were not on show because no one could be bothered to clean it, or as though Wordsworth’s The Prelude had been allowed to go out of print. How can it have taken so long for this great and magical opera to appear on CD?
So many of the expressions of our age have frowned in their contemplation of it, or have turned away to cultivate arcane, private gardens. But here was Tippett in 1955 expressing joy, boundless optimism and faith in beauty and humanity; doing so, moreover, with such richness of imagery that even those who loved it at first hearing were a bit taken aback by its overwhelming abundance.
As so often with his pieces, it took a while to sink in, and for players and singers to get their fingers and their vocal chords around those springing rhythms and sinewy lines. The moment at which that happened was the moment of this recording and the performances that preceded it. Remedios and Carlyle are not simply managing those exuberant hocketings above the stave in their final duet; you would swear that they were enjoying them, and as they do so the image of love as a consuming flame is vividly projected. Burrows and the adorable Harwood are audibly moved by how much tenderness and innocence there is in their music, and they make a real and most touching couple. Herincx is wonderfully suave and bossy as King Fisher; Watts not only survives her forays into the bass-baritone register but makes an awesomely Sibylline figure of Sosostris. And Davis, raptly in love with this score and communicating that to his singers and players so effectively that one is never aware of them gritting their teeth and counting beats as though their lives depended on it, reveals again and again the opera’s magical sonorities. It is a superb performance: after it one can hardly read those early reviews (“incomprehensible libretto”, “too much counterpoint”, “half an hour too long”) without laughing. The recording, too, communicates a real sense of live performance.
A masterpiece, in short, and one that can be listened to again and again without exhausting its exuberant generosity.
Michael Oliver, GRAMOPHONE (1/1996) Review of original CD release
So many of the expressions of our age have frowned in their contemplation of it, or have turned away to cultivate arcane, private gardens. But here was Tippett in 1955 expressing joy, boundless optimism and faith in beauty and humanity; doing so, moreover, with such richness of imagery that even those who loved it at first hearing were a bit taken aback by its overwhelming abundance.
As so often with his pieces, it took a while to sink in, and for players and singers to get their fingers and their vocal chords around those springing rhythms and sinewy lines. The moment at which that happened was the moment of this recording and the performances that preceded it. Remedios and Carlyle are not simply managing those exuberant hocketings above the stave in their final duet; you would swear that they were enjoying them, and as they do so the image of love as a consuming flame is vividly projected. Burrows and the adorable Harwood are audibly moved by how much tenderness and innocence there is in their music, and they make a real and most touching couple. Herincx is wonderfully suave and bossy as King Fisher; Watts not only survives her forays into the bass-baritone register but makes an awesomely Sibylline figure of Sosostris. And Davis, raptly in love with this score and communicating that to his singers and players so effectively that one is never aware of them gritting their teeth and counting beats as though their lives depended on it, reveals again and again the opera’s magical sonorities. It is a superb performance: after it one can hardly read those early reviews (“incomprehensible libretto”, “too much counterpoint”, “half an hour too long”) without laughing. The recording, too, communicates a real sense of live performance.
A masterpiece, in short, and one that can be listened to again and again without exhausting its exuberant generosity.
Michael Oliver, GRAMOPHONE (1/1996) Review of original CD release
Tracklist 40 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Act I Scene 1: This way! This way! (Chorus) 03:45
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Act I Scene 1: This way! This way! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:45
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
2 Act I Scene 1: What's that? Surely music? (Men, Women) 01:07
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Act I Scene 1: What's that? Surely music? (Men, Women)
- Duration
- 01:07
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
3 Act I: Prelude - 00:51
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Act I: Prelude -
- Duration
- 00:51
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
4 Act I Scene 2: Stop! Stop, Stop! (Mark) 05:00
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Act I Scene 2: Stop! Stop, Stop! (Mark)
- Duration
- 05:00
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Alberto Remedios
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
5 Act I Scene 3: O, Mark, who are they and Jenifer, Jenifer my darling (Chorus) 11:47
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Act I Scene 3: O, Mark, who are they and Jenifer, Jenifer my darling (Chorus)
- Duration
- 11:47
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
6 Act I Scene 4: What steps are those? - Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho (Jenifer, Men) 09:53
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Act I Scene 4: What steps are those? - Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho (Jenifer, Men)
- Duration
- 09:53
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Joan Carlyle
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
7 Act I Scene 5: What sort of place is this d'you think? (King Fisher) 03:57
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Act I Scene 5: What sort of place is this d'you think? (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 03:57
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
8 Act I Scene 6: So you, so you are Mark's fine brood of friends (King Fisher) 02:56
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Act I Scene 6: So you, so you are Mark's fine brood of friends (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 02:56
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
9 Act I Scene 6: So you, so you, so you're the company my daughter keeps! (King Fisher) 01:54
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Act I Scene 6: So you, so you, so you're the company my daughter keeps! (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 01:54
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
10 Act I Scene 7 and 8: Here I am, Sir, what can I do? - Jenifer! Jenifer! my daughter Jenifer! (Jack, Women, Men, King Fisher) 16:04
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Act I Scene 7 and 8: Here I am, Sir, what can I do? - Jenifer! Jenifer! my daughter Jenifer! (Jack, Women, Men, King Fisher)
- Duration
- 16:04
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Stuart Burrows, Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
11 Act I Scene 8: Returning to the earth is cruel (Jenifer) 02:09
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Act I Scene 8: Returning to the earth is cruel (Jenifer)
- Duration
- 02:09
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Joan Carlyle
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
12 Act I Scene 8: Come now with me and drop this childish masquerade (King Fisher) 04:37
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Act I Scene 8: Come now with me and drop this childish masquerade (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 04:37
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
13 Act I Scene 8: Is it so strange (Jenifer) 05:56
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Act I Scene 8: Is it so strange (Jenifer)
- Duration
- 05:56
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Joan Carlyle
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
14 Act I Scene 8: You, you who were with me when she left me (Mark) 04:08
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Act I Scene 8: You, you who were with me when she left me (Mark)
- Duration
- 04:08
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Alberto Remedios
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
15 Act I Scene 8: See by a heavenly magic in this glass (Jenifer) 04:40
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Act I Scene 8: See by a heavenly magic in this glass (Jenifer)
- Duration
- 04:40
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Joan Carlyle
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
16 Act II Scene 1: Call - Crying as they're flying - Jack, don't lets go with all the others (Chorus, Bella) 06:51
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Act II Scene 1: Call - Crying as they're flying - Jack, don't lets go with all the others (Chorus, Bella)
- Duration
- 06:51
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Elizabeth Harwood
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
17 Act II Scene 1: What day is it? (Bella) 03:57
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Act II Scene 1: What day is it? (Bella)
- Duration
- 03:57
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Elizabeth Harwood
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
18 Act II Scene 1: I'll lay the baby to my breast (Bella) 07:15
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Act II Scene 1: I'll lay the baby to my breast (Bella)
- Duration
- 07:15
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Elizabeth Harwood
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
19 Act II Scene 2: Strephon enters - Some of the trees appear to move 01:56
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Act II Scene 2: Strephon enters - Some of the trees appear to move
- Duration
- 01:56
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
- Disc 2
-
1 Act II: The Earth in Autumn 03:54
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Act II: The Earth in Autumn
- Duration
- 03:54
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
2 Act II: The Waters in Winter 04:59
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Act II: The Waters in Winter
- Duration
- 04:59
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
3 Act II: The Air in Spring 02:50
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Act II: The Air in Spring
- Duration
- 02:50
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
4 Act II Scene 3: Ah! They'll kill him! (Bella) 05:22
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Act II Scene 3: Ah! They'll kill him! (Bella)
- Duration
- 05:22
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Elizabeth Harwood
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
5 Act II Scene 3: King Fisher - Sun shines on a Midsummer day (Bella, Chorus) 03:21
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Act II Scene 3: King Fisher - Sun shines on a Midsummer day (Bella, Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:21
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Elizabeth Harwood
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
6 Act III Scene 1: Evening and Night - Ohay! Ohay! (Chorus) 05:41
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Act III Scene 1: Evening and Night - Ohay! Ohay! (Chorus)
- Duration
- 05:41
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
7 Act II Scene 1: No! King Fisher summons you - Keep the holster close by you (King Fisher) 02:36
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Act II Scene 1: No! King Fisher summons you - Keep the holster close by you (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 02:36
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
8 Act III Scene 3: Now Bella, call the Ancients (King Fisher) 03:04
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Act III Scene 3: Now Bella, call the Ancients (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 03:04
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
9 Act III Scene 3 and 4: Do you accept my challenge? - See where we carry on our mighty shoulder (King Fisher, Men) 03:49
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Act III Scene 3 and 4: Do you accept my challenge? - See where we carry on our mighty shoulder (King Fisher, Men)
- Duration
- 03:49
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
10 Act III Scene 5: I needn't tell Madame Sosostris (King Fisher) 02:25
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Act III Scene 5: I needn't tell Madame Sosostris (King Fisher)
- Duration
- 02:25
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Raimund Herincx
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
11 Act III Scene 5: Who hopes to conjure with the world of dreams (Sosostris) 02:54
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Act III Scene 5: Who hopes to conjure with the world of dreams (Sosostris)
- Duration
- 02:54
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Helen Watts
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
12 Act III Scene 5: I alone cannot consult myself (Sosostris) 04:14
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Act III Scene 5: I alone cannot consult myself (Sosostris)
- Duration
- 04:14
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Helen Watts
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
13 Act III Scene 5: You who consult me (Sosostris) 02:26
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Act III Scene 5: You who consult me (Sosostris)
- Duration
- 02:26
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Helen Watts
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
14 Act III Scene 5: I see a meadow (Sosostris) 03:30
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Act III Scene 5: I see a meadow (Sosostris)
- Duration
- 03:30
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Helen Watts
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
15 Act III Scene 6: She saw what happens in the soul (Chorus) 05:02
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Act III Scene 6: She saw what happens in the soul (Chorus)
- Duration
- 05:02
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
16 Act III Scene 7: Pride is virtue in a man of power (The Ancients) 03:16
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Act III Scene 7: Pride is virtue in a man of power (The Ancients)
- Duration
- 03:16
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- Stafford Dean, Elizabeth Bainbridge
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
17 Act III Scene 8: King Fisher's dead (A Man) 03:30
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Act III Scene 8: King Fisher's dead (A Man)
- Duration
- 03:30
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Performer
- David Whelan
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
18 Act III: Fire in summer (Chorus) 09:08
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Act III: Fire in summer (Chorus)
- Duration
- 09:08
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
19 Act III Scene 9: Was it a vision? (Chorus) 02:12
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Act III Scene 9: Was it a vision? (Chorus)
- Duration
- 02:12
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
20 Act III Scene 9: O summer sun (Chorus) 01:27
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Act III Scene 9: O summer sun (Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:27
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis
-
21 Act III: The moonlight has faded out 06:19
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Act III: The moonlight has faded out
- Duration
- 06:19
- Composer
- Michael Tippett
- Ensemble
- Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra
- Conductor
- Colin Davis