John Adams Archive
Editorial for February, 2018
John Adams is one of the USA’s most important musical voices. In his works, Minimalism is combined with imaginative orchestration and a jazz-inflected spirit to create a cosmos full of energy and colour. During the 2016/2017 season, John Adams accompanied the Berliner Philharmoniker as their Composer in Residence. The orchestra gave acclaimed concert performances of […]
“Splitting Adams” = John ADAMS: Chamber Symphony; Son of Chamber Symphony – Alarm Will Sound/Alan Pierson – Cantaloupe Music
“Splitting Adams” = John ADAMS: Chamber Symphony; Son of Chamber Symphony – Alarm Will Sound/Alan Pierson – Cantaloupe Music CA21128 (4/21/17) 76:29 ****: Wonderfully refreshing look at the music of this iconic composer. First, I am almost positive I have all of John Adams’ works that have been recorded as well as some scores and have […]
ADAMS: Scheherazade.2 – St. Louis Sym./David Robertson – Nonesuch
John Adams’ new Violin Concerto is dramatically compelling. JOHN ADAMS: Scheherazade.2 – Leila Josefowicz, v./ St. Louis Sym./David Robertson – Nonesuch 557170, 47:35 ****: One of the characteristics that is so endearing about John Adams’ music is that it reflects the variety of emotional and intellectual Zeitgeist of our times. It can be deep and […]
ROY HARRIS & JOHN ADAMS: Violin Concertos with Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin) / BBC Sym. Orch./Andrew Litton – Signum Classics
ROY HARRIS & JOHN ADAMS: Violin Concertos with Tamsin Waley-Cohen (violin) / BBC Sym. Orch./Andrew Litton – Signum Classics SIGCD468, 62:22 (10/1/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Two lovely contemporary violin concertos. This is a highly desirable recording from Signum Classics. It offers two violin concertos by American composers Roy Harris and John Adams. The Adams […]
JOHN ADAMS: The Dharma at Big Sur; My Father Knew Charles Ives – BBC Sym. Orch./ John Adams /with Tracy Silverman, electric violin – Nonesuch (2 CDs)
JOHN ADAMS: The Dharma at Big Sur; My Father Knew Charles Ives – BBC Sym. Orch./ John Adams /with Tracy Silverman, electric violin – Nonesuch 2-CD disc set 79857-2, 52:00 (9/26/06) ****: John Adams at his best with an East Coast and West Coast-themed musical offering. This is not a new disc, as it was […]
RATKJE: “And Sing” – Cikada with the Oslo Sinfonietta with vocals by Maja S.K. Ratkje – 2L
RATKJE: “And Sing” – Cikada with the Oslo Sinfonietta with vocals by Maja S.K. Ratkje – 2L multichannel SACD and Pure Audio Blu-ray – 2L-124-SABD (9/30/16), 44:00 [Distr. by Naxos] **: Ultra-contemporary music that will not be pleasant for all listeners. I hardly know how to review this disc from 2L. It contains two works […]
“Ensemble Pieces” = GAVIN BRYARS & CHRISTOPHER HOBBS – Soloists – Obscure
“Ensemble Pieces” = GAVIN BRYARS: 1,2,1-2-3-4; The Squirrel and the Ricketty Racketty Bridge; CHRISTOPHER HOBBS: Aran; McCrimmon Will Never Return – Gavin Bryars, Christopher Hobbs, Brian Eno, var. instruments/ensemble – Obscure BCGBCD23, 36:38 [Distr. by Allegro] (11/13/15) ***: Important reissue from the early British new wave. Obscure Records had a short but interesting tenure as […]
*JOHN ADAMS: Absolute Jest; Grand Pianola Music – SF Sym./ Michael Tilson Thomas – SFS Media
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
Two wonderful works by John Adams in hi-res surround – one early and one late.
JOHN ADAMS: Absolute Jest; Grand Pianola Music – SF Sym./ Michael Tilson Thomas – SFS Media
Two wonderful works by John Adams in hi-res surround – one early and one late.
![“Road Trip” – Aurora Orch. /Nicholas Collon cond. / Dawn Landes, vocals and guitar/ Sam Amidon, vocals [TrackList follows] – Warner Classics](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/RoadTrip.jpg)
“Road Trip” – Aurora Orch. /Nicholas Collon cond. / Dawn Landes, vocals and guitar/ Sam Amidon, vocals [TrackList follows] – Warner Classics
A sometimes awkward walk though American music.
Audio News for October 21, 2014
Sony’s New Digital Hi-Res Player Out Next Month; Huge Controversy Over Met’s Production of The Death of Klinghoffer; Sling & ViXS Collaborate on New Transcoder for TV Anywhere; CE Retail Sales Surge 6%
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in e; JOHN ADAMS: Violin Concerto – Chad Hoopes, v./ MDR Leipzig Radio Sym. Orch./ Kristjan Jarvi – Naïve
Hang on to your seat! At nearly four minutes faster than most Mendelssohn recordings, Hoopes is in a hurry. Adams is magnificent.
JOHN ADAMS: The Gospel According to the Other Mary – Los Angeles Philharmonic/ LA Master Chorale/ Kelley O’Connor (Mary Magdalene) and other soloists/ Gustavo Dudamel – Deutsche Grammaphon (2 CDs)
This is essential Adams and quite moving.
JOHN ADAMS: Harmonielehre; Doctor Atomic Symphony; Short Ride in a Fast Machine – Royal Scottish Nat. Orch./ Peter Oundjian – Chandos
The first SACD recording of the instrumental work taken from Adam’s controversial Doctor Atomic opera.
ALFONSO REGA: Sinfonia No. 7, “11 Settembre” – Musicale Vicentina /Concentus Aponius/ Heinrich Unterhofer
A moving and somewhat atypical musical tribute to the victims of 9/11.
JOHN ADAMS: Nixon in China (complete opera), Blu-ray (2012)
At long last here it is—the definitive Nixon in China!
“The Complete String Quartet Works of JOHN ADAMS” = John’s Book of Alleged Dances; String Quartet; Fellow Traveler – Attacca Quartet – Azica
Adams writes compellingly for the string quartet medium, and he gets fine advocacy from the Attaca Quartet.
San Francisco Symphony at 100, Blu-ray (2011)
Best Sound and Image of any music Blu-ray I’ve seen yet this year.
JOHN ADAMS: Harmonielehre; Short Ride in a Fast Machine – San Francisco Sym. Orch./ Michael Tilson Thomas – SFS Media
It’s fine to have this important Adams work in hi-res surround for the first time.
‘Drive American’ = Works of JOHN ADAMS, JOAN TOWER, WM. BOLCOM & Others – Heidi Louise Williams, p. – Albany
A wonderful collection of some very “American” originals!
* “Music for a Time of War” = IVES: The Unanswered Question; JOHN ADAMS: The Wound-Dresser; BRITTEN: Sinfonia da Requiem; VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 4 – The Oregon Sym./ Carlos Kalmar – PentaTone Classics
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *********
A superb first new SACD with PentaTone for the Oregon Symphony.
Audio News for November 4, 2011
Classical News Bits; Philips & TPV Sign Joint Venture; Clarion Readies First Pandora Head Unit; Harman International Industries Report Profit Increases; 3D TV Viewing Improvements on Tap in UK
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
