Tim "The Sultan of Snark" Page gets his freak zing on with composer (and ex US President!) John Adams:
Readers of a certain age may recall a television program called "Name That Tune," wherein a few notes would be played and contestants would attempt to identify the song. John Adams's "Harmonielehre" (1985), which the National Symphony Orchestra played last night at the Kennedy Center in honor of the composer's 60th birthday, might have been better named "Spot That Influence," for there isn't much in its 40-odd minutes that seems uniquely Adams's own.
Thankfully, signor Page also thinks that eventually, thanks to Leonard "We'll Play All Of Beethoven 9 in 60 seconds" Slatkin's conducting the piece "manages to win one over with a certain hammered, visceral excitement".
Memo to Signor Page: sir, we totally dig ur stuff BUT please don't send us a happy birthday card OK?
