Copland: El salón México; Appalacian Spring; Rodeo; Dance Symphony; Fanfare

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Antal Dorati's performance of Appalachian Spring is the most beautiful on disc. There are other performances that have a more rustic character, or perhaps a sharper rhythmic definition, but none have such purity and innocence. It's certainly not the only way to conduct the ballet, but on its own terms, the music simply shines. The remaining works range from the incredibly popular Rodeo music (better known as the music from the beef commercials) to the early but exciting Dance Symphony. All of them have been extremely well recorded, and Dorati's expertise as a ballet conductor ensures that the performances are completely idiomatic. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

El salon Mexico
Dance Symphony: I. Lento - Molto allegro - Adagio molto
Dance Symphony: II. Andante moderato
Dance Symphony: III. Alegro vivo
Fanfare For The Common Man
Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': I. Buckaroo Holiday
From Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': II. Corral Nocturne
Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': III. Saturday Night Waltz
Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': IV. Hoe-Down
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Very Slowly
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Allegro
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Moderato: The Bride And Her Intended
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Fast: The Revivalist And His Flock
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Allegro: Solo Dance Of The Bride
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Meno mosso
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Doppio movimento: Variations On A Shaker Hymn
Appalachian Spring (1945 Suite): Moderato: Coda

Amazon.com

Antal Dorati's performance of Appalachian Spring is the most beautiful on disc. There are other performances that have a more rustic character, or perhaps a sharper rhythmic definition, but none have such purity and innocence. It's certainly not the only way to conduct the ballet, but on its own terms, the music simply shines. The remaining works range from the incredibly popular Rodeo music (better known as the music from the beef commercials) to the early but exciting Dance Symphony. All of them have been extremely well recorded, and Dorati's expertise as a ballet conductor ensures that the performances are completely idiomatic. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

the start is allright but then .......2006-01-21

the start is allright, but then. Copland has produced some original melodies but also not original melodies. Music quality is great. Overall quality is okay.

Copland Via Motown.......2002-06-08

As he had done with his recordings of Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite" and Gershwin's "Porgy And Bess Symphonic Picture", Antal Dorati and his Detroit Symphony Orchestra, in recordings made in the early 1980s, have distinguished themselves in the American classical music canon by taking on the works of America's most popular native composer, Aaron Copland.

Beginning with Copland's homage to the land below the Rio Grande, "El Salon Mexico", and continuing on with his lesser-known "Dance Symphony" (a ghoulish work taken from his never-staged 1920's ballet "Grohg"), Dorati and his orchestra then move to the stirring "Fanfare For The Common Man", then traverse the suites Copland extracted from his two ultra-popular ballets--"Rodeo" and "Appalachian Spring." All of these works are done excellently by an orchestra that has often been underrated.

Don't bother buying this CD, despite digital sound........1999-05-17

Even with digital recording and generally great sound quality, Dorati and the DSO produce lifeless performances of Copland's work, especially in the four suites from Rodeo. Dorati chooses a plodding tempo and the Detroit players seem to be just generally going through the motions. One can say the same about the rendition of the Dance Symphony, but better results are acheived in Appalachian Spring and Fanfare for the Common Man, where the digital sound really adds extra sparkle. However, the best version I've ever heard is still Bernstein with the NYPO, where the adrenaline really lends itself to a fantanstic performance of both Appalachian Spring and Rodeo.

I can only add more praise.......1999-05-13

The orchestral execution here in the Copland idiom is exquisite, the sound to match. Dorati took much more care with Copland than anyone else, indeed you could argue he was the first maestro other than Koussevitsky to taken Copland seriously, especially in the recording studio.

Buy this disc and just revel in it.

I'm listening to it now!.......1998-09-29

An owner of many Copland works on CD performed by many orchestras and conductors, I have found Dorati to be the best yet in interpreting Copland's music. Although Dorati takes most of the pieces at a slower tempo than most, such as Bernstein, he makes up the vigor with his musical interpretation and fluidity. Perhaps the closest to what Copland intended the music to be. Even if you have the same pieces by different conductors, buy this one anyway, you will find the differences rewarding to the ear.

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