Aaron Copland, Erik Johns, Murry Sidlin, Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Susan Hanson, Milagro Vargas, Robert MacNeil, Douglas Webster, Richard Zeller, Choral Cross-Ties – The Tender Land, Opera In Two Acts (Complete Chamber Version)

This is the world premiere recording of the chamber version of Aaron Copland’s only opera, The Tender Land, arranged by Murray Sidlin and enthusiastically sanctioned by Copland himself. In 1995 Philip Brunelle led a superb reading of the “big” version of the opera on Virgin Classics. I’m tempted to say that if you own that one you don’t need this one, but in some ways the reduced orchestra suits the intimate story and directness of the characters even better. What has always been remarkable about this opera is not that it is sweet, innocent, and cloying, but that it somehow avoids being cloying while at the same time remaining sweet and innocent. But that’s what makes Copland’s genius so special, and those who love Appalachian Spring will discover much of the same feeling of warmth and homespun verisimilitude here.

The performance is excellent–the chamber orchestra plays handsomely and with great sentiment, and the singers react to the music as if they were living each moment for the first time.

Try not to do without this; it’s a beauty.

2CD Booklet in slipcase

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