Audio CD review:
John Adams, Rene Bosc, Ensemble Diagonales, Orchestre Philharmonique De Montpellier Languedoc-Roussil, Emilie Simon, Emmanuel Kjob, Odile Fargère, Virginie Pesch - John Adams: Fearful Symmetries; Chamber Symphony; Four Songs; Christian Zeal and Activity

John Adams, Rene Bosc, Ensemble Diagonales, Orchestre Philharmonique De Montpellier Languedoc-Roussil, Emilie Simon, Emmanuel Kjob, Odile Fargère, Virginie Pesch - John Adams: Fearful Symmetries; Chamber Symphony; Four Songs; Christian Zeal and Activity

Band: John Adams, Rene Bosc, Ensemble Diagonales, Orchestre Philharmonique De Montpellier Languedoc-Roussil, Emilie Simon, Emmanuel Kjob, Odile Fargère, Virginie Pesch Title: John Adams: Fearful Symmetries; Chamber Symphony; Four Songs; Christian Zeal and Activity Rating: Release Date: 12 September, 2000 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Fearful Symmetries - Montpellier PO/Rene Bosc 2: Chm Sym: Mongrel Airs - Montpellier PO/Rene Bosc 3: Chm Sym: Aria With Walking Bass - Montpellier PO/Rene Bosc 4: Chm Sym: Roadrunner - Montpellier PO/Rene Bosc 5: Four Songs: Song About The Bad Boys And The News - Ens Diagonales 6: Four Songs: A Sermon On Romance - Ens Diagonales 7: Four Songs: Leila's Song - Ens Diagonales 8: Four Songs: Earthquake - Ens Diagonales 9: Christian Zeal And Activity - Montpellier PO/Rene Bosc

Customer Review Good, not great It's hard to imagine a better recording of the Chamber Symphony than that by Ensemble Modern--if you're able to find it--and Fearful Symmetries is recorded on the same Nonesuch Records disc as Adams' essential orchestral song 'The Wound-Dresser. These are all exciting pieces, but those interested in the music of John Adams would probably do better to start elsewhere. ' The 'Four Songs,' from the song-play 'I Was Looking at the Ceiling and then I Saw the Sky,' are masterpieces of American text-setting. To hear them sung with thick French accents is positively unheimlich. The songs are definitely worth a listen, and the Nonesuch recording of 'Ceiling/Sky' is a little lifeless, but "A Sermon on Romance" (for example) is performed so superbly on that disc that this rendition is agonizing by comarison. Likewise, 'Christian Zeal and Activity,' not one of Adams' most memorable pieces in the first place, is seriously overshadowed by the recording on Nonesuch Records, on which it is paired with more interesting and popular pieces than these. Though I must point out: any Adams completists out there should take note of "The Earthquake"--this is the first available recording of this music. It's a very interesting "rock-instrumental" style movement from 'Ceiling/Sky' that was not included on the Nonesuch disc. . You can see a complete list of all John Adams, Rene Bosc, Ensemble Diagonales, Orchestre Philharmonique De Montpellier Languedoc-Roussil, Emilie Simon, Emmanuel Kjob, Odile Fargère, Virginie Pesch discography, or go back to the John Adams, Rene Bosc, Ensemble Diagonales, Orchestre Philharmonique De Montpellier Languedoc-Roussil, Emilie Simon, Emmanuel Kjob, Odile Fargère, Virginie Pesch tabs