Joplin: Treemonisha

This page lists all recordings of Treemonisha, by Scott Joplin (1867-1917) on CD.

Recommendations

BBC Music Magazine

Opera Choice
March 2012

Gramophone Magazine

Editor's Choice
April 2012

All recordings

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Joplin: Treemonisha

Anita Johnson (Treemonisha), AnnMarie Sandy (Monisha), Edward Pleasant (Zodzetrick), Frank Ward Jr. (Ned), Chauncey Packer (Remus)

The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers, Rick Benjamin

This is a work of tremendous significance, as it is the only opera in existence about the Reconstruction Era African-American experience, written by a black man who actually lived through it. The echoes of the “field hollers”, spirituals, fiddle tunes, revival hymns and ancient African dances of his rural childhood are all heard, as are the dialect of people rising up from slavery.

“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

Gramophone Magazine