Treemonisha: Opera In Three Acts (1911)

The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra & Singers; Rick Benjamin, conductor

Composed by: JOPLIN, Scott

“Benjamin's recording...is perfectly balanced to get the best out of the score. Glory lies less with the singers, who range from woolly (AnnMarie Sandy's Monisha) to bright (Anita Johnson's Treemonisha). Benjamin's new orchestration and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra's punch are prize-worthy.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2012 **** “Benjamin's light-on-its-feet orchestration fits the music: genteel melodic lines swim like fish through pure water...Edward Pleasant and AnnMarie Sandy (Zodzetrick and Monisha) banish operatic pomp; Anita Johnson's Treemonisha is sincerely felt. The star of the show, though, remains Joplin...This is the most important document about the history of American composed music to have appeared in a long, long time.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2012 “The orchestra is simply superb. I really cannot praise the players too highly for their technical brilliance but also for their perfect understanding of the idiom...Anita Johnson in the title role is good without being exceptional.” MusicWeb International, December 2012

Price: $45.98