The Death Of Klinghoffer - Discussions With John Adams

From inner booklet: Suggested intro for broadcast of the complete 30-minute discussion CD, OR as intro to any one of the 10-minute segments. Few operas in history have made news like John Adams' operas, Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer. The reason is that Adams has turned current events into music that stirs the head and the heart. The Death of Klinghoffer, just released on CD, takes as its subject the 1985 Palestinian hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro and the murder of an elderly, Jewish American man on board. A gigantic, three-hour work, the opera has prompted worldwide comment, and discussions both about its art and its politics. In the next minutes, we'll hear musical excerpts from Klinghoffer and the composer John Adams' own views about his controversial opera. Here is John Adams commenting on the underlying themes, story and impact of The Death of Klinghoffer. Suggested outros for broadcast: A. If ONLY discussion material (Tracks 1-3) have been aired: We've just heard John Adams and music from his new opera, The Death of Klinghoffer. The 2-CD recording, featuring Kent Nagano and the Orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon, has just been released on Elektra Nonesuch. B. If BOTH discussion and music (Tracks 4-7) have been aired: We've just heard John Adams and music from his opera, The Death of Klinghoffer. Kent Nagano led the Orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon on this newly-released Nonesuch recording, which also features the English Opera Chorus, and baritones Sanford Sylvan (Leon Klinghoffer), James Maddalena (The Captain), and Eugene Perry (Mamoud).