Customer Reviews

Copland: The Tender Land (complete opera)

5 star:		(2)
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3 star:		(1)
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I found this opera to contain a very well layed plot. To accompany the plot, Copland has added some very beautiful mealodies for both vocal and orchestral. The music is no surprise for the first time it is listened to. It's typical Copland. Out of my entire collection of music, I treasure this CD the most. The best part about it is that the oprea is in English! I can actually understand what the characters are saying. It's also a great opera to introduce to a preteen or a teen. There is no violence and a rape is only mentioned in a very 'proper' manner. I, myself, am a teen and I might not of ever started listening to opera if it wasn't for this one.

This is first rate Copland (no doubt about it). Is it first rate Opera? Depends. If your ideal of Opera is Puccini or Verdi or Wagner -- Tender land is not these in American garb.(Wotan in blue Jeans - ? sorry, not this ). It's American Opera, in a style for American Composers. If you like Copland's "easier" style, you'll love this as well. The story is fine and the music serves its purpose - to convey the story's characters feelings and emotions. Brunelle does fine job and the singers serve Aarons music well. If you want the composers' ideas on this work, Copland conducted an abridged version of "Land" that is still available. Interested in other American operas?
Carlisle Floyd's "SUSANNAH" (Curtin, Triegle New Orlean Opera) An absolute must !
Douglas Moore's "THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE" ( Sills, Cassilly NYCO )
Edward Thomas' "DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS" (this is a real sleeper - the critics trounced it but it's a fine work in my opinion -besides, how can you go wrong with Jim Morris in the cast? )
Sam Barbers' "VANESSA".
Give these AMERICAN OPERAS' a try ( and throw out your preconceived notions of what Opera should be . Its new stuff !

Okay, I must admit that the instrumental music of the Tender Land is one of the most beautiful works of Copeland's illustrious career, but if you're looking for a big dramatic story with Wagner horn wails, then looks elsewhere. Brunelle's interpretations are good, however I found one of the male vocalists to be rather lack-luster. I don't condone public humiliation so I won't say who it was. I've not heard any other versions of the full opera, so I cannot make any comparisons. However if you have only heard the highlights of this opera (ie- The Promise of Living), you might want to buy a CD containing the orchestral suite because I find much of the reccitativo (sp?) in this opera very tedious to listen to. I recommend the RCA Victor "Composers Conduct" series because Copeland conducts the suite himself with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Included also on the CD is the Appalachian Spring Suite, Morton Gould conducting his "Fall River Legend Suite" and his "Latin-American Symphonette" Again, if you're a big fan of American Opera, then this is your CD, but if you're just a fan of Copeland, get the orchestral suite!