Aaron Copland Born: 14 Nov. 1900, Brooklyn, NY Died: 2 Dec. 1990, Peekeskill, NY

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

• The Second Hurricane, for high school students with chorus of parents, libretto by Edwin Denby (1938)
• The Tender Land, opera in 2 acts; (1 April 1954, NY City Opera)
• The Tender Land [rev. in 3 acts] (1955)

One of the most influential American composers of the twentieth century, Copland nevertheless did not find success with either of his operas. The Tender Land is still occasionally heard, but not as often as the work's quality warrants.

The Tender Land. Bohn/Comeaux/Dressen/Fristad, Plymouth Music Series/Brunelle, 1990. Compact disc: Virgin Classics VCD-7-91113-2 Compact disc: Musical Heritage Society MHS 522834L.

The Tender Land, complete chamber version (premiere rec. of this version). Hanson/Vargas/Zeller/MacNeil, Third Angle New Music Ensemble/Sidlin, 1999. Compact disc: Koch 7480.

The Tender Land (complete?), on A Copland Celebration Vol. 3. New York Philharmonic/Copland, rel. 2000. Compact disc: Sony 89329.

The Tender Land. University of Kentucky, Kirk Trevor, cond. 2002. Compact disc: Albany Music Dist.

The Second Hurricane. New York Philharmonic/Bernstein, rel. 1998. Compact disc: Sony 60560.

Suite from The Tender Land. Boston Symphony Orchestra/Copland, rel. 1993. Compact disc: RCA 61505.

Suite from The Tender Land. Third Angle New Music Ensemble/Sidlin, 1997. Compact disc: Koch 7403.

Laurie's Song from The Tender Land, on The World So Wide, Dawn Upshaw 1998. Compact disc: Nonesuch 79458.