Basel CO/Christopher Hogwood
Arte Nova 82876506932
The complete ballet in the original chamber version: played, conducted and recorded with lucid, plain-speaking vitality.
San Francisco SO/Michael Tilson Thomas
Sony 82876658402, RCA 09026635112
Full ballet, full orchestra: affectionate tempi and impressionistic textures underlining Copland’s mastery of orchestration.
Ensemble K/Simone Menezes
Aparté AP243
Suite, chamber version: taps into the homespun modesty and simplicity like few others, but in high-finish modern engineering.
BBC Philharmonic/John Wilson
Chandos CHSA5164
Suite, orchestral version: the Chandos engineering brings a wide-screen panorama to the open harmonies and sturdy dances.
Pittsburgh SO/William Steinberg
DG 4864442 (17CDs)
Suite, orchestral version: no-nonsense tempi from Steinberg, analytical Command Classics sound, newly remastered by DG.
Columbia CO/Aaron Copland
Sony 19439977462 (20CDs)
Complete ballet, chamber version: dry sound, even in a new remastering, patchy execution,…