Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man; Appalachian Spring; Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo; Quiet City; Dance Symphony

This portrait of Aaron Copland may not be complete, but it is attractive. There are more elegant recordings of the Four Dance Episodes from “Rodeo” than the Baltimore Symphony’s under David Zinman, but the much rest of the set is given over to Zubin Mehta and his Los Angeles Philharmonic and the results are splendid: it would be silly to complain about rhythmic overemphasis in “Appalachian Spring,” and the orchestra’s accompaniment of the patriotic “Lincoln Portrait” -- recited with unpretentious authority by Gregory Peck -- is spectacular.

Our rating

3

Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:17 pm

COMPOSERS: Copland
LABELS: Decca
WORKS: Fanfare for the Common Man; Appalachian Spring; Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo; Quiet City; Dance Symphony
PERFORMER: Various orchestras & conductors
CATALOGUE NO: 466 192-2 Reissue

This portrait of Aaron Copland may not be complete, but it is attractive. There are more elegant recordings of the Four Dance Episodes from “Rodeo” than the Baltimore Symphony’s under David Zinman, but the much rest of the set is given over to Zubin Mehta and his Los Angeles Philharmonic and the results are splendid: it would be silly to complain about rhythmic overemphasis in “Appalachian Spring,” and the orchestra’s accompaniment of the patriotic “Lincoln Portrait” -- recited with unpretentious authority by Gregory Peck -- is spectacular. Among the pleasant surprises here are Sir Neville Marriner’s deliciously idiomatic way with “Quiet City,” and Antal Dorati’s relishing the Latin lilt of “El salón México.” Octavio Roca

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