John Luther Adams in New York City
8th May 2017
John Luther Adams © Evan Hurd
Alex Ross, The New Yorker
John Luther Adams is a composer whose music and cultural worldview is inspired by nature and environmental concerns. Symphony Space presents Adams in a week-long New York City residency with performances, discussions, and films.
John Luther Adams in Conversation with Lucian Read
MONDAY, MAY 08 | 7:30PM
A special evening with John Luther Adams and award-winning photographer, cinematographer, and producer Lucian Read, whose climate=change documentary Years of Living Dangerously won an Emmy in 2014. Also included will be a short preview of Where the Air Is Music, Read's upcoming documentary on John Luther Adams, along with Read's short about the Dakota Access Pipeline protest, Mni Wiconi: The Stand at Standing Rock, and more.
John Luther Adams and Barry Lopez
TUESDAY, MAY 09 | 7:30PM
Longtime collaborators John Luther Adams and author Barry Lopez discuss their work, which explores environmental concerns and the relationship between the physical landscape and human culture. With a performance of Among Red Mountains by pianist Lisa Moore and a reading of Lopez's essay "The Invitation" by James Naughton.
Steinway Salon: Lisa Moore
THURSDAY, MAY 11 | 7PM
Lisa Moore performs a special program, "The Pleasure of Being Lost," curated by John Luther Adams. The program includes a world premiere by Michael Byron, and music by Peter Garland, Lois V Vierk, Jim Fox, David Mahler, Lou Harrison, and Tukiliit (The Stone People Who Live in the Wind) by Adams himself.
Canticles of the Holy Wind
FRIDAY, MAY 12 | 7:30PM
Atmospheric and transformative, Canticles of the Holy Wind is an extraordinary aural experience. Performed by The Crossing with musical director Donald Nally, this gorgeous evening-length work surrounds the audience with four choirs, creating soundscapes that sweep through the sanctuary of St. Michael's Church and evoke wind, dreams, planets, and other secrets and mysteries of nature. The Crossing's CD recording of Canticles of the Holy Wind, due out June 2 on Cantaloupe Music, will be available for advance sale exclusively at this event.
Ten Thousand Birds
SUNDAY, MAY 14 | 3PM
An enchanting free outdoor performance of Ten Thousand Birds, in its New York premiere by the commissioning ensemble, Alarm Will Sound with music director Alan Pierson. For this immersive work, performers are situated throughout Morningside Park, playing material based on the songs of birds native to the eastern hardwood forest.
Become Ocean
THURSDAY, MAY 18 | 1PM
During the week following Adams' Symphony Space residency, Trinty Wall Street's Concerts at One series — focused on water justice, climate change, and water crises — presents the NOVUS NY orchestra led by Julian Wachner in a performance of his Pulitzer Prize-winning Become Ocean.
