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John Adams: Harmonielehre

The 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra conducted by Elena Schwarz performs Adams's pulsating Harmonielehre, Du Yun's Hundred Heads and, with soloist Steven Banks, Billy Child's Diaspora.

The 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra conducted by Elena Schwarz performs Adams's pulsating Harmonielehre, Du Yun's Hundred Heads and, with soloist Steven Banks, Billy Child's Diaspora.

Recorded at the Barbican on Friday 8th May. Presented by Martin Handley.

Du Yun: Hundred Heads
Billy Childs: Diaspora: Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra (UK Premiere)

Interval

John Adams: Harmonielehre

Steven Banks (saxophone)
91福利社 Symphony Orchestra
Elena Schwarz (conductor)

Billy Childs鈥檚 yearning sax sings of oppression and freedom. And a mythical Chinese monster somehow contains the spirit of jazz legend Ray Charles, in Du Yun鈥檚 Hundred Heads.

John Adams鈥檚 Harmonielehre is both a tribute to Schoenberg and a glittering celebration of West Coast counterculture. For Du Yun and Billy Childs, meanwhile, tales of Africa and China, the poetry of Maya Angelou and the deathless sound of Soul come together to create something powerful, personal and utterly new.

Every nation has a million stories: in America鈥檚 250th year, the 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra, conductor Elena Schwarz and saxophonist Steven Banks share some of the boldest.

11 days left to listen

2 hours, 14 minutes

Last on

Thu 21 May 2026 19:30

Music Played

  • Du Yun

    Hundred Years

    Orchestra: 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Elena Schwarz.
  • Billy Childs

    Diaspora Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra

    Performer: Steven Banks. Orchestra: 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Elena Schwarz.
  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Oboe Sonata Op.166 -2nd Movement

    Performer: Steven Banks. Performer: Elizabeth Burley.
  • Charles Tomlinson Griffes

    Fantasy Pieces Op.6

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • HYPERION.
  • John Adams

    Harmonielehre

    Orchestra: 91福利社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Elena Schwarz.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Motet: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV227 (excerpt)

    Choir: Bach Collegium Japan Chorus. Orchestra: Bach Collegium Japan. Director: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

Broadcast

  • Thu 21 May 2026 19:30