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Aaron in Paris

Donald Macleod explores Copland’s Parisian education and bruising reviews.

Donald Macleod charts Copland’s transformative years in Paris under Nadia Boulanger’s guidance, and his return to America with bold new ideas. From the MacDowell Colony to the premiere of Music for the Theatre and a jazz-infused Piano Concerto, we hear how Copland’s modernist voice thrilled some, but terrified others.

The Cat and the Mouse
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano

Old Poem
Pastorale
Roberta Alexander, soprano
Roger Vignoles, piano

Music for the Theater:
i. Prologue
ii. Dance
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein, conductor

Piano Concerto
Aaron Copland, piano
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein, conductor

Vitebsk (trio for violin, cello and piano)
Oberon Trio

Produced by Ellie Ajao for BBC Audio Wales and West.

24 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Aaron Copland

    The Cat and the Mouse

    Performer: Isata Kanneh‐Mason.
    • Summertime.
    • Decca.
    • 1.
  • Aaron Copland

    Old Poem

    Performer: Roger Vignoles. Singer: Roberta Alexander.
    • ETCETERA : KTC-1100.
    • ETCETERA.
    • 4.
  • Aaron Copland

    Pastorale

    Performer: Roger Vignoles. Singer: Roberta Alexander.
    • ETCETERA : KTC-1100.
    • ETCETERA.
    • 5.
  • Aaron Copland

    Music for the Theater Suite (Prologue; Dance)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • SONY : SMK-60177.
    • SONY.
    • 1.
  • Aaron Copland

    Piano Concerto (1st & 2nd mvts)

    Performer: Aaron Copland. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • SONY : SM2K-47232.
    • SONY.
    • 1.
  • Aaron Copland

    Vitebsk

    Ensemble: Oberon Trio.
    • AVI MUSIC : AVI-8553475.
    • AVI MUSIC.
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Last Tuesday16:00

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