Adams: A Flowering Tree John Adams
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CD
- Release Date: 09/23/2008
- 2 Disc Set
- Sales Rank: 27,622
- Label: NONESUCH
- UPC: 075597996517
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Adams: A Flowering Tree
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Editorial Reviews
"A Flowering Tree" was commissioned by an international consortium of musical organizations in honor of the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. Adams' opera uses a libretto that he and Peter Sellars constructed from ancient south Indian folk sources. The opera's theme, the adversity faced by a couple before they are united and redeemed, is related to that of "Die Zauberflöte," and Adams' opera has a delicacy and mysticism that deepen the comparison. It has recognizable hallmarks of Adams' style, particularly its harmonic language, rhythmic vitality, and the distinctive approach to text setting that has characterized his work beginning with "Nixon in China." Perhaps it's the subject matter that has opened a vein of lyricism that makes it warmer than Adams' previous large operas. Adams found a remarkable level of lyric expressiveness in his operas about political diplomacy, a terrorist kidnapping, and the development of the atomic bomb, so it shouldn't be surprising that an opera with a story as overtly romantic as this one should elicit music of even more warmth and emotional intensity. His orchestration is especially colorful, with recorders given a prominent role and with extensive exotic percussion. Adams and Sellars have handled the material with their characteristic disregard for convention. Even though the story of young lovers finally being joined together places the opera firmly in the Western dramatic tradition, the creators mix things up by giving the largest role to a narrator, by having the chorus, which represents a variety of characters, sing in Spanish, and by having the main characters represented by Indonesian dancers as well as by the singers. The performance is splendid: disciplined but lively and emotionally charged. Soprano Jessica Rivera, with a voice reminiscent of the young Dawn Upshaw, sings radiantly as Kumudha. Bass-baritone Eric Owens is an eloquent narrator, and tenor Russell Thomas is passionate as the Prince. The composer leads the London Symphony in a shimmering, incandescent performance. Schola Cantorum de Venezuela (whose participation in the premiere played a large part in the composer's decision to set some of the text in Spanish) sings with virtuosic versatility. Nonesuch's sound is clean, vibrant, and intimate, and creates an excellent sense of dramatic space. Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide
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