John Adams’ latest composition has been released on streaming platforms. Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes? was recorded in November 2019 with soloist Yuja Wang. Los Angeles Philharmonic accompany Wang on the recording, led by conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
Deutsche Grammophon stated it will be first released as a digital-only album, with a video performance and vinyl release coming later in the year on 21 August.
Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes? was written especially for Wang, and is inspired by Liszt, Ligeti, gospel and funk.
The works continues a long relationship between Adams and LA Phil, who received his first commission from the orchestra some 40 years ago, and has been its creative chair since 2009.
Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes? had its world premiere in March 2019 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The LA Times said the music had, “a fine, energetic, jumping noise that could only have come from an American composer with an eye on popular culture.”