UNH Music presents The Tender Land by Aaron Copland April 15-17
 
The UNH Music Department proudly presents Aaron Copland's beautiful American opera, "The Tender Land" with UNH soloists, chorus and orchestra under the direction of David Ripley. The apt title represents the “coming of age” theme that concerns both the main characters as well as the conscience of the country as it confronts its own prejudice.

Set in the Midwest in roughly the 1930s, the main character, Laurie Moss, is about to graduate from high school - the first of her family. She is the pride and joy of her mother and Grandpa. Two drifters, Martin and Top, come to town and after convincing Grandpa to “hire a stranger” they help bring in the harvest. There is a rape in the neighboring county and Ma Moss suspects that Martin and Top are the guilty men; “there's supposed to be two of them traveling together” the reports say.

Martin and Laurie fall in love and when Grandpa, a little drunk after the graduation party, stumbles home and finds them kissing he calls the two “no good dirty bums” and orders them to leave. The argument tears the family apart and the guests must depart having witnessed this ugly confrontation. Laurie tries to convince Grandpa, “it's not wrong what I've done”, but he will hear none of it. The postman arrives to inform the group that the guilty men have just been caught in the next county, but the damage has been done. After meeting secretly that night, Laurie and Martin plan to leave together at daybreak. Top returns to learn of Martin’s plan.

Confronting Martin, he convinces him that he has nothing to offer Laurie “hoppin' the freight - is that how you see Laurie?” Martin sees the light, and leaving before dawn, calls her name one last time asking forgiveness. Laurie arrives at sunrise for the rendezvous, only to find that in addition to the trauma of breaking with her own family, she has also been left by the man she loves. Her spirit shattered, she knows she must leave – “like the harvest that is ready to be gathered in.” After her poignant farewell, Ma Moss turns her attention to Beth, Laurie's younger sister, who represents the future.

Outstanding vocal soloists of the UNH Music Department take the principle roles; Jennifer Pomeroy and Emily Faulhaber as Laurie, Shauna Fallihee as Ma Moss, Benjamin Mafera and Benjamin Clark as Martin and Top, Eryk Nielsen sings Grandpa Moss and Miles Burns the role of Mr. Splinters, the postman. Special guest star Sonya Ginsberg of the Oyster River Middle School sings the role of Beth.

This performance is part of the UNH series, Opera and the American Experience, conceived by director David Ripley.

Performances will take place in the Johnson Theatre of the Paul Creative Arts Center Friday, April 15, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the door one hour prior to the performance. For more information, call the UNH Music Department at 2-2404.