Aaron Copland - Billy the Kid; Grohg (Leonard Slatkin)

Information

Composer: Aaron Copland

• (01) Grohg (One-Act Ballet)
• (07) Billy the Kid (Complete Ballet)

Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Date: 2019
Label: Naxos
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.559862

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

Leonard Slatkin’s Copland is always first rate, and this release is no exception. He already recorded the complete Billy the Kid in St. Louis for EMI, but that disc could be anywhere right now, except readily available, and so if you want the entire work this performance is just the ticket. I actually prefer the full-length ballet to the suite. You get about ten minutes more music, all of it worth hearing, and the result is a work that has a more compelling range of narrative and less of that picture postcard Americana feel that just might be starting to sound a tad old. It only remains to be said that throughout the disc the Detroit Symphony plays terrifically.

Grohg is early Copland, but much of it got reused in the Dance Symphony. Inspired by the silent film Nosferatu, the music is aptly dark and spooky, with a decadent sheen similar to what we find in, say, Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin. That said, you can plainly hear the composer to come in such numbers as the Dance of the Street-Walker, with its angular sonorities and burlesque atmosphere. As with Billy, Slatkin proves a completely convincing guide to a remarkably assured piece of writing. The coupling of these two works also makes for a more interesting release than usual, and justifies purchase even if you already own a Billy the Kid or three. First rate sonics too.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/copland-billy-the-kid-grohg-slatkin
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Mar/Copland_grohg_8559862.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/May/Copland_grohg_8559862.htm
http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=16260
https://www.allmusic.com/album/copland-billy-the-kid-grohg-mw0003252715
https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.559862&languageid=EN

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Aaron Copland (November 14, 1900 – December 2, 1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor. His works are consider by many to be the sound of American music, evoking the vast American landscape and pioneer spirit. He is best known for the works he wrote in the 1930s and 1940s in a deliberately accessible style, such as the ballets Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid and Rodeo, and his Third Symphony. In addition to his famous ballets and orchestral works, he produced music in many other genres including chamber music, vocal works, opera and film scores.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Copland

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Leonard Slatkin (born September 1, 1944 in Los Angeles) is an American conductor and composer. Slatkin attended the Juilliard School where he studied conducting under Jean Morel. He also studied with Walter Susskind at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Slatkin worked as principal conductor and music director of the St. Louis Symphony, National Symphony, BBC Symphony and Orchestre National de Lyon, as well as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic and Pittsburg Symphony. He has been the music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 2007.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Slatkin

http://www.leonardslatkin.com/

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