The Tender Land

Synopsis

Aaron Copland's hauntingly beautiful two-act opera is a coming of age tale exploring themes of loneliness, sexual awakening and affinity with the land. As Laurie begins to fall in love, she questions her place in the world and whether it is time to leave the security of home and assert her own being. Just as she makes the decision to chase her own dreams her anticipation of fulfilment turns to despair and her family can only look on as they await her final choice.

Our Review:

26 August 2009

When Aaron Copland’s sole opera, The Tender Land, was first staged by the New York City Opera in 1954, it was criticised for being weak on plot and characterisation. But watching this MadCow Theatre Company production, presented here as part of the Arcola Theatre’s Grimeborn 2009 festival in which twenty-six companies perform new and neglected operas, I can only assume that the original cast can’t have been up to much.

For whilst on paper the characters might seem clichéd and sketchily drawn, this production proved how much they can really be brought to life.

To be sure, though The Tender Land, directed here by Katherine Hare, deserves to be better known than it is, the plot alone will ensure that no major opera house gives it a second glance.

Set in the American Midwest in 1934, it explores the coming of age of Laurie Moss, a girl from a poor farming community. However, by exploring her sexual awakening and the entire history of her...

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Latest User Review

Jennifer Weadling - 3 September 2009:

Amy Castledine was amazing This show deserves a longer run...

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