John Adams’s controversial opera “The Death of Klinghoffer” recounted the 1985 hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro by Palestinian terrorists and the subsequent murder of Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish American passenger. The Brooklyn Academy of Music, which presented the American premiere of the work in 1991, has brought it back this week for a series of concert performances. Today on Soundcheck, Adams joins John Schaefer to respond to some of the criticisms of the work – which was seen by many as insensitive in its treatment of religious issues. Also on the show, vocal quartet Anonymous Four takes a break from its farewell tour for a live performance in the studio with harpist Andrew Lawrence King.
Additional Resources:

More about John Adams

More about Anonymous Four