Munich Philharmonic: Adams / Dessner / GlassBrad Lubman (conductor), Alice Sara Ott (piano)
John Adams’s compositions Christian Zeal and Activity, and Philip Glass’s Itaipú are dedicated to various American spiritual traditions. In his 1973 work, John Adams quotes and arranges the English hymn Onward, Christian Soldiers, which, despite its military style, was associated with the American civil rights movement.
John Adams’s compositions Christian Zeal and Activity, and Philip Glass’s Itaipú are dedicated to various American spiritual traditions. In his 1973 work, John Adams quotes and arranges the English hymn Onward, Christian Soldiers, which, despite its military style, was associated with the American civil rights movement.
Itaipú by Philip Glass deals with the technological colonisation of South America. Around 40,000 Guaraní lost their ancestral homes due to the construction of the Itaipú dam. Completed in 1984, it is still the world’s largest dam and supplies Brazil and Paraguay with a large proportion of their electricity. Philip Glass composed this moving choral symphonic work based on a great flood described in Guaraní creation mythology. The voices of the Guaraní, brought to life here by the Philharmonic Choir, tell of the delicate relationship between humans and nature.
Embedded between these works of American minimalism is the new piano concerto by Bryce Dessner, who straddles different musical genres. The universal US composer rose to fame as indie rock band The National’s electric guitarist, while at the same time establishing his reputation as an orchestral composer. The German premiere of his new piano concerto is presented by the well-known Munich pianist Alice Sara Ott.
Programme
- John Adams: Christian Zeal and Activity for chamber ensemble
- Bryce Dessner: Piano Concerto (German premiere)
- Philip Glass: Itaipú symphonic portrait for choir and orchestra
Featuring
- Alice Sara Ott, piano
- Munich Philharmonic
- Munich Philharmonic Choir; Andreas Herrmann, rehearsal
- Brad Lubman, conductor
