ADAMS: “Nixon in China.” Carolann Page, Trudy...

ADAMS: “Nixon in China.” Carolann Page, Trudy Ellen Craney, James Maddalena, Sanford Sylvan, John Duykers, Thomas Hammons, singers; orchestra and chorus of St. Luke’s; conducted by Edo de Waart. Elektra Nonesuch 79177 (three compact discs). This premiere recording enlists the forces of the first New York performances, rather than of the Houston premiere: same soloists, but different chorus, orchestra and conductor. Compared to the televised, live work of Houston conductor John DeMain, De Waart’s way with John Adams’ flamboyant score seems more suave in stressing the lyrical vocal flights as well as in smoothing the persistently chugging accompaniment. Artificial studio balances abet that impression; every word comes through loud and clear, as do clarion sonics. You can almost feel “The Spirit of ‘76” land in the first act. Though spectacle was an important element in the original production, Adams’ vital, protean music holds its own on disc.