The Tender Land

The Tender Land is an American opera composed by Aaron Copland with a libretto by Horace Everett. The opera premiered in 1954 and is set in the rural Midwest during the Great Depression.

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In The Tender Land, the characters embody the two opposing forces that exist within each individual - the desire for stability and the pull toward the unknown. Laurie, the protagonist, represents the latter, as she yearns to leave her rural hometown and explore the world beyond. On the other hand, characters like Ma Moss and Grandpa Moss are deeply connected to their home and its traditions. The character of Martin, however, embodies both of these forces, as he is both a drifter who represents the possibility of adventure and the excitement of the unknown, and someone who is also searching for a stable sense of home and belonging. Through the characters' conflicts and interactions, the opera explores the tensions between these opposing forces, portraying the complex nature of the dichotomy of our desire for security and our thirst for adventure.