John Adams in conversation with Sarah Willis (18 min.)

For the 2016/2017 season, the Berliner Philharmoniker appointed the American John Adams as their Artist in Residence, the first composer to hold the position. To start their year of intensive work together, Adams conducted two of his own works as part of Musikfest Berlin 2016 and, at the same time, celebrated his debut conducting the orchestra. As they were composed 30 years apart, the two compositions Harmonielehre and Scheherazade.2 provide a fascinating insight into the artist’s development. Together with the Philharmoniker’s horn player Sarah Willis, John Adams discusses his attachment to tonality, his ambivalent relationship to the European musical avant-garde of the 20th century, how much he is looking forward to his Residency in Berlin, and his artistic friendship with the soloist of the evening, the American violinist Leila Josefowicz.