Classical Music Happy Hour is a new classical music podcast hosted by seven-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax. Now available on Apple Podcasts, episode 4 features a conversation with American composer John Adams, titled “John Adams – not the President.”
In each episode, Ax talks with special guests about their lives and careers, listens to some of their favorite classical works, plays music-inspired games, and answers questions from listeners.
In Episode 4, composer John Adams joins Manny to discuss his approach to opera composition, the stories behind his intriguingly titled works, and the time he was once mistaken for John Cage. Adams answers listener questions on the evolution of music and the emotional pull of minor keys. He also shares his love of Stravinsky and Handel. For their game segment, Adams puts his knowledge to the test as Manny quizzes him on outrageous performance directions.
American composer and conductor John Adams has been the Creative Chair of Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2009. His works stand out among contemporary classical compositions for their depth of expression, brilliance of sound, and the humanist nature of their themes. As a conductor, Adams has led major orchestras, programming his own works with a wide variety of repertoire ranging from Beethoven, Mozart and Debussy to Sibelius, Ives, Carter, Glass and Ellington. Among his honorary doctorates are those from Yale, Harvard, Northwestern and Cambridge universities and from The Juilliard School.