Wichita State University’s fine arts department plans on peeling back the curtain in the spring semester with an opera show to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“The Tender Land,” written in 1954 by Aaron Copland, takes place in rural America during the Great Depression. The show brings the audience through the everyday life of struggle during that time period.
“One of the reasons I chose this opera, of the thousands that you could choose from, was that this is a quintessential American opera,” said Alan Held, director of opera at Wichita State. “ This being the 250th anniversary of the country, it was good to do an American piece.
“Aaron Copland wrote opera, wrote music in a way that just feels American. And I know that’s hard to describe, but there’s an openness to it. There’s a yearning to explore. The harmonies are something that we just hear in our ear as American.”
The story follows Laurie Moss, a young woman living out on a farm with her family during the depression. On the day of her high school graduation, Laurie’s routine on the farm gets disrupted by two drifters, Top and Martin. Then, her ordinary life sees a chance to change.
Laurie grows closer and closer to Martin, beginning to envision her life beyond her farm, but reality starts to settle in as Laurie’s grandfather becomes more skeptical of the two drifters.
Laurie is forced to come to grips with reality as she is left with those big dreams and has to make a choice.
Alan Held, plans on putting the show “The Tender Land” for all WSU students to view with the help of stage director Hillary Taylor and assistant music director Warren Kim.
“We recognize these characters inside of all of us. The protective grandfather who wants to protect his granddaughter,” Held said. “The mother who didn’t quite follow all of her desires and she’s a little disappointed in life. This young woman who’s ready to try it all. It touches on a young person maturing.”
Despite limited familiarity with opera among some audiences, Held hopes that people give it a chance.
“I wish people would give opera a try. I think there’s this idea that it’s very scary. It’s very difficult to understand,” Held said. “This is not that at all, you would love this piece. It’s very approachable. It’s fun at times. There’s great music. There’s dancing in it. It’s just a really great piece of music. And it’s so American.”
