Scott Joplin's 'Treemonisha' (New World) on The New Yorker Classical Recordings 'Eleven for 2011'

[Scott Joplin Treemonisha; The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers; Rick Benjamin, conductor; New World Records 80720 (2011)]

ScottJoplin (c. 1867-1917) is featured at AfriClassical.com. We have already posted two reviews of Scott Joplin Treemonisha, recorded by The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers under the direction of Rick Benjamin, conductor. The recording is a New World Records 2-CD set. Today we present a review from The New Yorker:

The New Yorker

January 5, 2012
Classical Recordings: Eleven for 2011

Posted by Russell Platt

Scott Joplin: “Treemonisha” (New World). Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and soloists; Rick Benjamin, conductor.

“Treemonisha,” a story of Reconstruction-era blacks trying to free their struggling post-plantation community from ignorance and superstition, is as noble and elevated as “Anna Nicole” is crude and deliberately low-down. The major artistic testament of the Ragtime King, it blends Joplin’s syncopated sui generis style with influences of the classical opera tradition—which has led a number of well-intentioned modern orchestrators to inflate the music to at least Mozartean dimensions. Benjamin, going through his trove of rare manuscripts, has at last given us the piece as the dying, impecunious Joplin probably wanted it, scored for a early-twentieth-century “high class vaudeville” band of twelve instrumentalists. The flaws and virtues of the piece are as clear as ever: plodding recitatives and sweetly foursquare arias (Joplin’s libretto is touching and earnest) alternate with choruses that could make you weep with joy. There is nothing else like it, and Benjamin, aided by his excellent orchestra and singers, has finally made it whole.