Adams: Harmonielehre & Short R

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony release two works by John Adams: Harmonielehre which was commissioned, premiered and recorded by SFS in 1985; and Short Ride in a Fast Machine, commissioned by Tilson Thomas prior to his becoming Music Director of SFS in 1995.

Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) and the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) release the latest in their award-winning catalogue of recordings with two works by John Adams, a composer indelibly associated with the orchestra: Harmonielehre, one of the composer's earliest orchestral works which was commissioned, premiered and recorded by SFS in 1985; and Short Ride in a Fast Machine, commissioned by MTT prior to his becoming Music Director of SFS in 1995. In keeping with the high-end quality of the MTT-SFS releases on their own SFS Media label, this recording is released in the Hybrid SACD format.

Harmonielehre is one of Adams’ early bold statements, blending elements of classical, jazz, rock and minimalism, and American and European influences. MTT, who conducted the work during his first season as SFS Music Director in 1995 and multiple times since, said of the work, “When a new piece is premiered, it can make a stunning impression. But the real story of that piece is what emerges over time. When the SFS first performed Harmonielehre in the mid-80s it was a life changing moment for everybody who heard it… now, decades later, the piece still stands up.”

Of Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Adams recalls, “For some reason a connection with Cape Cod came to mind. Years before [the commission] I had been there with a former brother in-law and he had asked me at about 1 in the morning if I would like to take a ride with him in his Lamborghini. I did and once he started up I wished I hadn’t because he drove very, very fast. The idea of a piece that had that combination of excitement and thrill and was just on the edge of anxiety or terror was the motivating force.”

This release joins the highly-acclaimed, best-selling MTT-SFS catalogue, which includes their outstanding cycle of Mahler’s orchestral works and songs, the Keeping Score series of DVDs and Blu-Rays, and more recent releases of works by Beethoven, Copland and Ives.

Adams, J:
 Harmonielehre
 Short Ride in a Fast Machine

"[Harmonielehre] requires a very safe pair of conductor's hands to smooth out its eclectic fissures. Michael Tilson Thomas is about as safe as one could wish for...both live recordings serve to reinforce Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony's status as true champions of Adam's orchestral music."
Gramophone Magazine May 2012

"Er is een reden, naast de wervelende uitvoering door de San Francisco Symphony, waarom het tijdens de uitvoering onhoorbare publiek zich zo in applaus te buiten gaat na afloop van Harmonielehre: de muziek van John Adams suggereert voortdurend het ontstaan van iets groots, waar de oren van de toeschouwer aan lijken mee te werken. De snelle herhalingen van korte motieven met daartussen de lyrische lijnen doen denken aan het in sneltreinvaart tot bloei komen van een heel natuurgebied, of aan het filmisch zweven over uitgestrekte landschappen of grote, drukke steden vol leven. Niet voor niets trekt Adams muziek luisteraars aan die zich normaliter verre van het klassieke repertoire houden. Het driedelige Harmonielehre roept de fantasie wakker: wie open staat voor deze muziek, voelt zich na beluistering deel van wat zich zojuist heeft afgespeeld. Het is de verdienste van Michael Tilson Thomas, dat hij deze specifieke kwaliteit ten volle over het voetlicht weet te brengen, met een scherp oog voor detail en voor het uit de vaak imposante klankmuur naar voren halen van instrumentgroepen. De cd wordt aangevuld met het korte Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Samen zijn de stukken goed voor iets meer dan drie kwartier. Niet lang, wel heel wervelend."
Hein van Eekert-Klassieke Zaken Magazine

"MTT leidt zijn geweldig spelend orkest feilloos door de maalstroom van emoties en indrukken in Harmonilehre. Wurgend spannende, epische uitvoering van Adams' hommage aan de laatromantiek."
Luister Magazine