Copland: The Populist

Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony Aaron Copland - Copland: The Populist

Copland: The Populist
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CD Details

Artist: Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony Aaron Copland
Composer: Aaron Copland
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas
Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2010-07-26
Music Label: RCA
Soundtracks:
  1. Billy The Kid
  2. Appalachian Spring
  3. Rodeo: Buckaroo Holiday
  4. Rodeo: Corral Nocturne
  5. Rodeo: Saturday Night Waltz
  6. Rodeo: Hoe Down

Music reviews of Copland: The Populist

Music Review: Copland: The Tilson Thomas Way
Rating: 3 Stars

Michael Tilson Thomas has been praised widely for his Copland interpretations through the years and hearing this recording I can understand their viewpoint, but I don't share it. He takes these Copland staples on a new, and some critics have said never heard before, sonic adventure. As a reviewer pointed out, these readings are more "atmospheric," but while this is true, they do lack an edge. Tilson Thomas isn't my favorite condutor and nowhere near one of the best I've heard. Too often he takes great pieces of music and smoothes them over, which in turn, causes the music to loose it's edge, which in the music of Copland, it's crucial.

Allow me to explain:

I view Copland as an "American Stravinsky" of sorts, especially in the way he writes, or in his own words "assembles," his melodies, harmonies, and most importantly rhythms, which is a key element to Copland's music. It seems that Tilson Thomas doesn't understand this aspect of the music. I get the same reaction from his Stravinsky recordings. They are very elegant sounding, but this isn't what Stravinsky or Copland intended I think. Copland wrote strong rhythms and it seems that all Tilson Thomas is able to do with these rhythms is sugarcoat them. Rhythm is one aspect of Copland's music you don't want to sugarcoat.

That said, Tilson Thomas does manage to reach a few high points like in the "Hoedown" movement of "Rodeo," he's able to get some excitement stirred from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, who do a fine job, but are misguided here. The problem with MTT is he's able to trigger that excitement at key moments, but he's not able to sustain that intensity for very long, thus, resulting in the listener loosing interest.

The RCA audio is exquisite and I'm quite impressed with this aspect of the recording, which, for me, is this recording's only saving grace. 3 stars.

For some more exciting accounts of these works checkout the following:

Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO
Copland Conducts Copland
Copland conducts Copland
Copland: Appalachian Spring; The Tender Land (Orchestral Suite); Billy the Kid (Ballet Suite)
Copland: Appalachian Spring; Billy the Kid; Danzon Cubano; El Salon Mexico
Copland: Billy the Kid; Rodeo; Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite [Hybrid SACD]

For a more detailed look into Copland's music try these:

The Copland Collection: Early Orchestral Works, 1922-1935
The Copland Collection: Orchestral & Ballet Works, 1936-1948
The Copland Collection: Orchestral Works, 1948-1971
More Copland: The Populist free music reviews:
1 2 3

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