Park City Opera’s
The Tender Land
July 18 & 19, 2026
Temple Har Shalom
Celebrating America’s 250th with music that captures the American spirit.
About The Tender Land:
Deeply rooted in the American spirit, Copland’s The Tender Land portrays one young woman’s quiet but radical act of choosing her own future. Set against the open landscapes of the American West, The Tender Land is a coming-of-age story about longing, independence, and resilience in the face of hardship.
As Laurie stands on the brink of her high school graduation, the arrival of a handsome outsider awakens dreams of a life beyond her family’s farm. When hope, love, and disappointment collide, she must decide whether to remain within the life she knows or step boldly into the unknown.
The Tender Land made for Park City:
Thank you for joining us to celebrate summer and America’s 250th with complimentary American light bites by Chef Galen Zamarra, a cash bar with a speciality cocktail by Alpine Distillery, live folk music by Kate MacLeod and Dylan Schorer, and a relaxed indoor–outdoor setting at Temple Har Shalom that beautifully reflects the opera’s open-prairie spirit. In this intimate venue, the singers and chamber orchestra performed just feet away, making every moment feel personal and immediate.
Run Time: 2 hours
Language: English
Now on Spotify
A narrated playlist for The Tender Land
New to the opera? Audiences were invited to follow the story scene by scene with music and narration, curated to guide them through Laurie's world.
Narrated by Benjamin Beckman, Artistic Director & Conductor
The role of Laurie was performed by Rachel Kobernick on Saturday, July 18th and by Lena Goldstein on Sunday, July 19th.
The Tender Land was accompanied by a chamber orchestra of thirteen players, performing an orchestral reduction by Murry Sidlin. This version was produced with and supervised by Aaron Copland himself, preserving the clarity and character of the original score.
“Little by little it came to be
That line between the earth and sky
Came beckoning to me”
This production was made possible, due in part, to the support of the following organizations:
