At first glance, this DVD is an average concert registration, as there are now so many available. The repertoire, with works by John Adams, Steve Reich and Conlon Nancarrow, certainly stands out from the average DVD. Nevertheless, this DVD is especially worth recommending because of the extras, namely the documentary about the composer John Adams. The beginning is not very promising: with throbbing
… comments it is suggested that Adams was the only one who managed to save art music from a deep crisis and there are quite a few unnecessary hostile observations about modern music. More interesting is the whole as an image of the musical developments in the second half of the twentieth century. During his training, Adams ended up in the world of the strict avant-garde and escaped from it through his experiences with pop music and the emerging minimal music. Eventually he developed a style that combined the euphoria and emotional directness of nineteenth-century music with his national background. And it is precisely the fact that Adams' career resembles that of many of his contemporaries in this respect - Pärt is someone who underwent a similar development - makes this documentary a fascinating overview of the music history of the last fifty years. (JvG) career in this respect resembles that of many of his contemporaries - Pärt is someone who went through a similar development - makes this documentary a fascinating overview of the music history of the last fifty years. (JvG) career in this respect resembles that of many of his contemporaries - Pärt is someone who went through a similar development - makes this documentary a fascinating overview of the music history of the last fifty years. (JvG)more
