John Adams - The Chairman Dances (1987)

Combining the vocabulary of classical dance with a suggestion of traditional Chinese lyric gestures and pageantry, The Chairman Dances builds on the repetitiveness of its minimalist score and boldly colorful staging. It features a lead dancer and a corps of 16 women attired in brilliantly colored Chinese-style costumes, with decor by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. The ballet was inspired by a scene originally written for, but not included in, the production of Adams' opera, Nixon in China, that of Chairman Mao dancing with his future bride, the movie star Chiang Ch'ing.

Tracklist
1 Foxtrot For Orchestra: The Chairman Dances
2 Christian Zeal And Activity
3 Two Fanfares For Orchestra: Tromba lontana
4 Two Fanfares For Orchestra: Short Ride In A Fast Machine
5 Common Tones In Simple Time


San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Edo de Waart, conductor

Nonesuch 9 79144-2