The Midsummer Marriage

The Midsummer Marriage
Opera by Michael Tippett
LibrettistTippett
LanguageEnglish
Based onThe Magic Flute
by Mozart
Premiere
27 January 1955 (1955-01-27)
Covent Garden, London

The Midsummer Marriage is an opera in three acts, with music and libretto by Michael Tippett. The work's first performance was at Covent Garden, on 27 January 1955, conducted by John Pritchard. The reception of the opera was controversial, over confusion as to the libretto and Tippett's use of symbols and psychological references.[1][2] The opera has received at least 10 more productions, in England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Sweden and the United States, including two more at the Royal Opera House.[3]

The premiere performance was recorded, and has been issued on compact disc. Covent Garden revived the work in 1968, conducted by Colin Davis, with the Ritual Dances choreographed by Gillian Lynne and in 1970, when the production formed the basis of the first commercial recording.[4] Tippett extracted the Four Ritual Dances from the opera as a separate concert work.

  1. ^ Dickinson, A. E. F., "Round about The Midsummer Marriage (January 1956). Music & Letters, 37 (1): pp. 50–60.
  2. ^ Spence, Keith, "Midsummer Marriage and its critics: a topical retrospect" (1971). The Musical Times, 112 (1535): p. 28.
  3. ^ "Shop – Sir Michael Tippett – The Midsummer Marriage". Schott Music. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. ^ White, Eric Walter, "Recordings: Three English Operas Recorded" (1972). Tempo (New Ser.), 98: pp. 30–32.