These may not be the finest recordings of
Copland's orchestral works ever committed to disc -- after all, they have competition from
Bernstein,
Slatkin and, of course,
Copland himself -- but for listeners who love the music, they will still provide a thrill and a chill. The twenty first century
Buffalo Philharmonic is not the same orchestra it was when
Michael Tilson Thomas ran it 40 years earlier -- with smooth strings, warm winds, bold brass, and powerful percussion, it's much better. And while music director
JoAnn Falletta may not be in the same class as
Tilson Thomas, much less
Bernstein or
Slatkin, she is clearly as fond of the music as the composer and does everything to give the best possible performances. Her Rodeo may lack some of the pizzazz of
Bernstein's, but it still has plenty of pop and fizz, and her Suite from The Red Pony may lack some of the warmth of
Slatkin's, but it still has plenty of heart. In the shorter Prairie Journal and Letter from Home,
Falletta and the
Buffalo's performance nearly equals
Copland's in emotional impact and surely surpasses his in technical polish. While those who love the music will not want to give up their
Bernstein,
Slatkin, and
Copland recordings, they may want to check these recordings out anyway. Naxos' sound is cool, deep, and clear.