This new disc fromcomposer John Adams,arguably America’s greatestliving composer, is a fineexample of his compositionalstyle. Son of ChamberSymphony, the first piece, is inspired bySchoenberg’s Op. 9 Chamber Symphony.Adams, however, is his own man and createswithin the form something that is uniquelyJohn Adams. The International ContemporaryEnsemble play beautifully under hisdirection. The String Quartet follows. Likethe Chamber Symphony, it’s beautifullywritten. The St. Lawrence String Quartet isclearly at one with the music; they give awonderful performance. Both pieces willplease lovers of Adams’s music – and willsurely convert a few non-believers.

Phil Richards is from Readings Carlton