John Adams
Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Adams, Julia Bullock, John Moore, Will Liverman, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Walt Disney Concert HallSouth Hope Street, Los Angeles 90012
John Adams conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale, joined by soprano Julia Bullock and baritones John Moore and Will Liverman, in a Minimalist Icons program drawn from four of his operas. The evening moves through the choruses from The Death of Klinghoffer, the Doctor Atomic Symphony, “Memorial de Tlatelolco” from El Niño, and selections from Nixon in China.
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and based in Northern California since 1971, Adams is a composer and conductor whose work Wise Music describes as marked by “depth of expression, brilliance of sound, and the profoundly humanist nature of their themes.” Gramophone called Nixon in China “a work of the kind destined to create a sensation even among those who normally pay little or no attention to the medium of opera.”
Designed by Frank Gehry, this concert hall is a striking architectural landmark with sweeping stainless steel curves that catch the light outside, while inside, its acoustics are meticulously crafted to deliver rich, clear sound to every seat. The auditorium seats over two thousand people in a space where the audience is fully immersed in the music, surrounded by warm wood paneling and a stage that brings performers close to listeners. The venue hosts ticketed performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other ensembles, offering an evening focused on attentive listening rather than casual socializing. Nearby bars and restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles provide options for pre- or post-show dining, but inside, the experience centers on the music in a refined, elegant setting.