"Leonard Bernstein is still the one to look for on Rodeo, but unfortunately, he never made a recording of Lincoln Portrait, which came as a shock to me, since he was probably the greatest interpreter of Copland's music. Fortunately, I found this recording with the great statesman Adlai Stevenson giving an emotional reading accompanied by the great Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy. If you're looking for Lincoln Portrait, this is the CD to look for. Look to Bernstein for Rodeo."
A Cut Rodeo undermines an otherwise excellent bargain
Joe Anthony (a.k.a. JAG 1) | 05/04/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For the most part, this is an excellent CD, with great performances throughout. Of note is Andre Previn's moving, wonderful account of the Red Pony suite, bringing out much more of the work's excitement than Copland's own more measured, standard reading. Unfortunatly, the dance episodes from Rodeo are a dissapointment. First, there are only three instead of the customary four episodes, and, even stranger, a large part of Buckaroo Holiday is cut towards the beginning. For the other works on this CD though, this is a fine purchase."
Best performance of Lincon Portrait on record
Robert Levine | Milwaukee WI United States | 10/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is probably the best performance of the Copland "Lincoln Portrait" available on recordings. Stevenson reads Lincoln's wonderful prose with both dignity and intensity, and Ormandy's pacing (and the solo wind and brass playing of the Philadelphia Orchestra musicians) is impeccable, capturing completely the melancholy and darkness of the opening without being bombastic in the more overtly patriotic passages."
I bought it for the "Lincoln Portrait"
Joe Anthony (a.k.a. JAG 1) | Massachusetts, USA | 12/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In my mind there is only one conductor who "owns" the music of Aaron Copland and that is Leonard Bernstein. However, since, Maestro Bernstein never redorded (as far as I know) Copland's "Lincoln Portrait", I would suggest this recording by the outstanding Eugene Ormandy with Senator Adlai Stevenson as narrator. It's a quite passionate homage to our most beloved president.
Comparison for Lincoln Portrait: William Warfield/David Effron/Eastman Phil. Orch (Also very good but out of print and only ever released on LP)"