Sunday, December 18, 2016

John Malveaux: At "El Niño" concert Composer John Adams confidently stated that bass-baritone Davone Tines and soprano Julia Bullock are certain future greats

John Malveaux and Davone Tines


John Malveaux and Julia Bullock

John Malveaux of 
writes:

An evening at Disney Concert Hall to experience El Niño began with pre-concert talk moderated by Los Angeles Philharmonic president Debra Borda that included composer John Adams, conductor Grant Gershon, and librettist/ video artist Peter Sellars. In reference to the current cast of his nativity oratorio, John Adams confidently stated that bass-baritone Davone Tines and soprano Julia Bullock are certain future greats. He projected Julia Bullock to the greatness of Leontyne Price and declared  Davone Tines now owns the oratorio and although others will challenge him in future years, none will succeed to replace him.

Peter Sellars reminds us in the two language oratorio that 'The whitest flower is rooted in the mud'. Davone and Julia were kind to briefly meet with me following the performance and I felt connected to the new wave of diversity in classical music and opera.


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