Conductor Marin Alsop won a prize at the International Classical Music Awards with a Naxos album devoted to works by John Adams (Naxos), a composer with whom she regularly collaborates. The conductor is at the helm of the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien. Pierre-Jean Tribot of Crescendo, member of the ICMA Jury, interviewed her.
You recorded this John Adams album in Vienna with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. When we think of Vienna, we naturally think of Beethoven or Mahler. Is there a Beethovenian or Mahlerian dimension to the music of John Adams?
The ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien is an extraordinarily versatile orchestra, playing the most avant-garde new music one day and the classics the next. For me, Adams is both unique and respectful of tradition. For my first season in Baltimore, I paired living composers with Beethoven, and John was my first contact. He asked for the most minimalist of Beethoven’s symphonies: Symphony No. 7!
Your album includes three orchestral scores: City Noir, Fearful Symmetries and Lola Montez Does the Spider Dance. How did you choose these scores and not others?
For me, it was important to showcase John’s immense palette: Fearful Symmetries is one of my absolute favorite pieces to conduct. It’s typically American, with a danceable groove and a cool sound universe. City Noir is quite the opposite – an epic symphonic performance with lots of references and associations. Finally, Lola Montez is the piece John composed for me on the occasion of my last concert as musical director of the Cabrillo Festival, after 25 years in the business. It’s fun, delicate, cheeky and wonderful.
You’ve been conducting and recording works by John Adams for many years. How do you see the evolution of the composer’s art?
I think what characterizes a truly great composer is constant evolution with a consistent signature. This is what characterizes John Adams. He pushes himself to tackle important narratives and new structures, but we always recognize his voice.
The works you’ve programmed for this album are American in style. How did the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra react to this music? Does the Viennese spirit blend well with the power of John Adams’ orchestra?
The ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien is a truly international ensemble. They’re young, hip and like to embrace the American vernacular. This project has been a lot of fun for all of us!
What are your next projects with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra?
We’ve just recorded Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. We have several other recording projects in the pipeline, and I’m looking forward to all our collaborations!
Marin Alsop’s website: www.marinalsop.com
