Adam Smith, Set to Music

TL;DR

David Lang's new oratorio, *the wealth of nations*, is based on Adam Smith's *The Wealth of Nations* and premiered by the New York Philharmonic.
The work models Handel's *Messiah*, using texts from Adam Smith, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Eugene V. Debs, among others.
Lang states his intention is not to declare 'good guys and bad guys' but to present ideas for listeners to consider.
Musically, the oratorio features a pastiche of styles, including minimalism, with varied sections ranging from playful to bluesy and gospel-inflected.
The reviewer found the piece sincere and admirable, though occasionally tedious, ultimately deeming it a valuable contribution for bringing attention to Adam Smith's work.

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