"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 8:58:04, Jun 18th 2013 - cabraden1 - I salute you Colonel Overland. Your were my c.o. at Rockville Naval Air ... [Read More]
- 7:10:46, Jun 13th 2013 - chipperlee - Seems to be a well written article, except maybe Silica Sand is used in ... [Read More]
- 12:02:15, Jun 9th 2013 - getthefacts - The problem here lies in the fact that girls were repeatedly told "if y ... [Read More]
- 10:45:32, Jun 7th 2013 - Jo mom for 6yrs - Mr. Ehler hit the nail on the head. I agree with the religious con ... [Read More]
- 2:47:58, Jun 7th 2013 - hello - Hello, it's time you wake up. There isn't a community nearby that doesn't offe ... [Read More]
- 9:06:21, Jun 6th 2013 - hello - Hello, it's time you wake up. There isn't a community nearby that doesn't offe ... [Read More]
- 2:05:29, Jun 6th 2013 - Kim Wentworth - The number one rule in a debate: 1) if the person from the opposite si ... [Read More]
- 12:42:18, Jun 4th 2013 - EW - For someone that is always spouting religious rhetoric, you try to come off as a ... [Read More]
- 11:32:18, May 31st 2013 - JO PLAYER - This is unfair to us girls. Morrie Miller is not getting canceled but J ... [Read More]
- 8:25:34, May 29th 2013 - RP - Why is Mr. Ehler involving himself with non-school activities? Is he going after ... [Read More]
When music meets the land
Comments
Many people are familiar with the expression “The opera isn’t over until the fat lady sings,” but how about “…until the cow bellows,” or “…until the kitten frolics?” This was the case for 1,500 opera-goers last Sunday at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music production of Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land.
Staged on the old fashioned front porch at the David and Lori Bakke farm in rural Lanesboro, the outdoor production showed off Fillmore County’s best. Seated on chairs throughout the Bakke’s lawn, the audience was treated to picture perfect views of rolling farmland and a warm summer’s breeze. Local youth organizations worked the aisles, keeping the crowd well supplied with cool drinks, homemade pie, fresh cookies and other goodies.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA STUDENT Eleanor Taylor sings a touching song about her emotions surrounding graduation day as she portrays Laurie Moss in The Tender Land. Photo by Jill O’Neill
Music and landscape meshed together during the two-hour show. Cattle seemed to bellow on cue from their spring pasture. The powerful, melodic voices of nine University students captivated the audience as they sang Copland’s snappy, yet touching melodies. Intricate sounds from the thirteen-piece student orchestra hovered in the summer air. Midway through the production the Bakke’s black and white kitten “Tiger” took a place on stage, winning the audience’s heart with his antics. All told, the atmosphere was relaxing and comfortable—just like life in Southeast Minnesota.
Set on a Midwestern farm, The Tender Land tells the story of a farm family dealing with life changing events and decisions. The night before her high school graduation, the family’s daughter, Laurie, falls in love with a drifter who has been doing odd jobs on the farm. To complicate matters, the drifter and his friend are falsely accused of attacking some young girls in the county. Laurie makes plans to run off with the drifters, who have been asked to leave the farm by daybreak. She is devastated when she learns that they stole off in the night without her and decides to leave home anyway. Laurie’s mother turns to her youngest daughter, Beth, for answers and finds hope in the continuous cycle of life.
Eleven year old Marguerite Abrahamson of rural Lanesboro did an outstanding job at portraying the young farm girl Beth. She opened and closed the production in two touching scenes and maintained her character well throughout the show. A thirty-four member community chorus took center stage during act two, performing a song and dance about the ways of rural life. The audience gave the cast and orchestra a standing ovation before returning to Lanesboro by shuttle bus.
The travelling opera troupe rested up Sunday night in Lanesboro before heading to Des Moines, Iowa for their third of seven performances throughout the Midwest. Several Lanesboro residents opened their homes to host the University performers. Project director, Linda Fisher reported that the tour couldn’t have gotten off to a more perfect start. “Lanesboro has been very welcoming,” said Fisher. “The students are always a bit reticent about going into peoples’ homes, but they told me this morning that they are being treated like royalty.”
The Tender Land will show in Des Moines, IA; Algona, IA; Pipestone/Ihlen, MN; Renville County, MN; New Rockford, ND and Red Lake Falls, MN between now and June 24. The opera is directed by Akira Mori and Vern Sutton, both from the University of Minnesota.
Staged on the old fashioned front porch at the David and Lori Bakke farm in rural Lanesboro, the outdoor production showed off Fillmore County’s best. Seated on chairs throughout the Bakke’s lawn, the audience was treated to picture perfect views of rolling farmland and a warm summer’s breeze. Local youth organizations worked the aisles, keeping the crowd well supplied with cool drinks, homemade pie, fresh cookies and other goodies.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA STUDENT Eleanor Taylor sings a touching song about her emotions surrounding graduation day as she portrays Laurie Moss in The Tender Land. Photo by Jill O’Neill
Music and landscape meshed together during the two-hour show. Cattle seemed to bellow on cue from their spring pasture. The powerful, melodic voices of nine University students captivated the audience as they sang Copland’s snappy, yet touching melodies. Intricate sounds from the thirteen-piece student orchestra hovered in the summer air. Midway through the production the Bakke’s black and white kitten “Tiger” took a place on stage, winning the audience’s heart with his antics. All told, the atmosphere was relaxing and comfortable—just like life in Southeast Minnesota.
Set on a Midwestern farm, The Tender Land tells the story of a farm family dealing with life changing events and decisions. The night before her high school graduation, the family’s daughter, Laurie, falls in love with a drifter who has been doing odd jobs on the farm. To complicate matters, the drifter and his friend are falsely accused of attacking some young girls in the county. Laurie makes plans to run off with the drifters, who have been asked to leave the farm by daybreak. She is devastated when she learns that they stole off in the night without her and decides to leave home anyway. Laurie’s mother turns to her youngest daughter, Beth, for answers and finds hope in the continuous cycle of life.
Eleven year old Marguerite Abrahamson of rural Lanesboro did an outstanding job at portraying the young farm girl Beth. She opened and closed the production in two touching scenes and maintained her character well throughout the show. A thirty-four member community chorus took center stage during act two, performing a song and dance about the ways of rural life. The audience gave the cast and orchestra a standing ovation before returning to Lanesboro by shuttle bus.
The travelling opera troupe rested up Sunday night in Lanesboro before heading to Des Moines, Iowa for their third of seven performances throughout the Midwest. Several Lanesboro residents opened their homes to host the University performers. Project director, Linda Fisher reported that the tour couldn’t have gotten off to a more perfect start. “Lanesboro has been very welcoming,” said Fisher. “The students are always a bit reticent about going into peoples’ homes, but they told me this morning that they are being treated like royalty.”
The Tender Land will show in Des Moines, IA; Algona, IA; Pipestone/Ihlen, MN; Renville County, MN; New Rockford, ND and Red Lake Falls, MN between now and June 24. The opera is directed by Akira Mori and Vern Sutton, both from the University of Minnesota.