John Adams

BalletX: Fall: 2024 Season

October 1, 2024

The final work of the evening was Takehiro Ueyama’s “Heroes,” dedicated to the brave, hard-working citizens of Japan who helped pull themselves out of the devastation of World War Two. Set to darkly emotional music by Kato Hideki and Ana Milosavljevic (played live) and a recording of John Adams’ moody, but energetic “The Chairman Dances – Foxtrot for Orchestra,” “Heroes” was filled with a wide range of emotions beginning with a long duet, a portrait of a deeply emotionally involved couple who, heartbreakingly, wind up parting, Ueyama’s choreography skillfully, but subtly illuminating a wealth of emotions. [more]

London City Ballet: Fall 2024 Season

September 21, 2024

“Larina Waltz,” choreographed by Ashley Page to the lilting melodies of Tchaikovsky, opened the program. It was a dynamic expression of the classical ballet bona fides of this youthful company. Arrayed in a line of five couples, the men in black tunics and the ladies in white tutus, they performed unison partnering showing off the easygoing style that became more evident as the program progressed. Couples peeled off until only one remained, soon replaced by a succession of couples, all of whom performed charming, if not dazzling, turns, lifts and complicated steps, the men leaping and the women showing off balance and grace. This was a charming lagniappe, a gift to warm up the audience’s expectations. [more]

International Contemporary Ensemble: “Grand Pianola Music”

August 24, 2018

After intermission, German-born and now San Francisco based conductor Christian Reif led the International Contemporary Ensemble together with Quince Vocal Ensemble (Amanda DeBoer Bartlett/soprano, Liz Pearse/soprano and Kayleigh Butcher/mezzo-soprano – in a first-rate performance of John Adams’ 1982 "Grand Pianola Music." This expansive, generously accessible and affirming work was conducted with comprehensive control and artistic integrity by Reif; the organic, clean connection between the conductor and the musicians elicited rich feeling and nuance from Adams’ music. [more]

New York Choral Society and The Mannes Orchestra: For Those We’ve Loved

April 16, 2015

The Hindemith was beautifully performed and the second half of the concert was successful. But the first half, the Adams, was not a success. It was not an abject failure – Hayes wouldn't permit that – but the performance did not produce the kind of considered satisfaction that New York Choral Society concerts typically do. The reasons for this lay in the nature of Adams' piece and in particular features of the performance itself. [more]