On Tour in Paris
Sir Simon Rattle
Philharmonie de Paris
John Adams
Frenzy: a short symphony (19 mins)
Feast of the Passover from ‘The Gospel According to the Other Mary’ (9 mins)
Interval
John Adams
Harmonielehre (40 mins)
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
London Symphony Orchestra
Tickets
Available from Philharmonie de Paris
The Concert
Experience the breadth of composer John Adams’ art in this concert celebrating his 80th birthday – from relentless, pulsating minimalism to a powerful exploration of faith and social justice.
The Music
One of a handful of true American greats, John Adams has enjoyed a long history with the LSO. This concert is one instalment of a journey into Adams’ unique world, beginning with his ‘symphony in one movement’ Frenzy. As the name might suggest, it’s an urgent, driving piece, built on the back of a single melodic fragment that the composer distorts and transforms throughout.
We’ll also hear an extract from the end of Act 1 of Adams’ powerful 2012 operatic oratorio The Gospel According to the Other Mary, focusing on Mary of Bethany’s account Christ’s final few weeks. To finish, the exhilarating three-movement Harmonielehre blends minimalist drama with neo-Romantic expression.
The Performers
LSO Conductor Emeritus Sir Simon Rattle, one of John Adams’ greatest musical collaborators, is the perfect conductor to breathe life into these spectacular works.
