Michael Tippett
's
The Midsummer Marriage
was based on
Mozart
Die Zauberfloete, K. 620
, and intended as a kind of 20th century version of that opera. The modern symbolism has sometimes been thought to have been laid on a bit too thick in the libretto (by
Tippett
himself), but the fact is that
is a modern opera with great audience appeal when given a clean, energetic performance. That is exactly what it received in this 2021 presentation by
Edward Gardner
, leading the
London Philharmonic Orchestra
; the album was beautifully recorded by the BBC and released by the
LPO
's in-house label in 2022.
Gardner
has a strong cast, with two pairs of lovers (as in
Die Zauberfloete
) sung by
Robert Murray
and
Rachel Nicholls
, and
Jennifer France
Toby Spence
, respectively, and a standout reading by bass-baritone
Ashley Riches
as the evil King Fisher.
keeps things moving along; another source of inspiration for the opera is the 17th century English masque, and there are some wonderfully concise dances that ought to be played more often on orchestral programs. However, he makes room for the real lyricism in the work, in such numbers as "I'll lay the baby to my breast and rock it." This is a fine 20th century opera recording, one that seems likely to reshape the repertory a bit, for
is not commonly performed and has been recorded only once before. The album landed on best-seller charts in the fall of 2022, not a common feat for recordings of little-known 20th century opera. ~ James Manheim