Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. I Sing Of A Maiden
2. Hail, Mary, Gracious!
3. La Anunciacion
4. For With God No Thing Shall Be Impossible
5. The Babe Leaped In Her Womb
6. Magnificat
7. Now She Was Sixteen Years Old
8. Joseph's Dream
9. Shake The Heavens
10. Se Habla De Gabriel
11. The Christmas Star

Disc 2:

1. Pues Mi Dios Ha Nacido A Penar
2. When Herod Heard
3. Woe Unto Them That Call Evil Good
4. And The Star Went Before Them
5. The Three Kings
6. And When They Were Departed
7. Dawn Air
8. And He Slew All The Children
9. Memorial De Tiatelolco
10. In The Day Of The great Slaughter
11. Pues Esta Tritando
12. Jesus And The Dragons
13. A Palm Tree

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10479 in Music
• Brand: Adams
• Released on: 2001-08-28
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .45 pounds

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
To clear up one thing first: this is not about the El Niño weather system that hits the western Pacific every few years. Instead, this is a rather beautifully done Nativity Oratorio by John Adams, filled with his trademark dancing minimalist rhythms and tuneful melodies. The text is in Spanish, English, and Latin, and comes from both New World and Old World sources, all centering on the birth of Christ. Particular kudos must go to the three principals: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano; Dawn Upshaw, soprano; and Willard White, baritone. Even though there are moments when White's baritone threatens to dominate, they aren't significant enough to forestall any pleasure in the overall work. And while there are moments of drama here, they aren't nearly as spooky as those in The Death of Klinghoffer, Adams's other clear masterpiece. But El Niño is definitely a masterpiece and a must for anyone's collection of contemporary music. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

An American Masterpiece
John Adams' modern Nativity oratorio is not only the best thing he's written since "Nixon in China," it may be the best thing he's written. Filled with his usual driving rhythms and supple vocal lines, as well as more unusual features like a trio of countertenor angels, acoustic guitar, and settings of contemporary Latin American poetry, "El Niño" is big, bold and powerful without sounding busy or pretentious. The vocal performances are all heartfelt and perfectly nuanced, bringing out an emotional dimension in the Biblical characters rarely seen in more traditional approaches. It is a work that dares to be something both honest and majestic, and succeeds on every level. This is what new American music should be; and it deserves hearing by more than just fans of classical music.

Smart, Strange, Beautiful
Don't be fooled by the superficial pleasures of John Adam's music. Just beneath them, the attentive listener will discover-- well, extremely subtle and sophisticated pleasures. Though on the surface, his music seems to be grounded in familiar traditions of rhythm, harmony, and even form--obviously, no Christmas oratorio could be written without acknowledging Bach and Handel--it uses the past as the lifting-off point for pieces that are not only beautiful, but thrillingly original.

If you've ever enjoyed the music of John Adams, this recording is a must-have. If you don't know it, this is a great place to start. El Niño, silly title aside, is a brilliant, passionate piece.

Impressive Modern Oratorio
I've never been much impressed by Adams before, but I may have to rethink my viewpoint. This is a great opera (or oratorio) that treads the same ground as the first half of Handel's 'Messiah'. I particularly liked the use of various non-Bible texts in different languages, and some of the Britten-like orchestration. With Lorraine and Dawn singing, it's also faultlessly performed. Definitely recommended, whatever your tastes in classical music.