John Adams led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in two performances, the orchestra's first, of his most recent opera, 2006's A Flowering Tree, at LA's Walt Disney Hall this past weekend. The piece, a love story between an enchanted Indian girl and her Prince, is the composer's fifth with director Peter Sellars, in a working relationship that began with the groundbreaking opera Nixon in China from 1987.

While the composer's previous collaborations with Sellars have been so firmly rooted in historical events, confronting complex real-life matters, says Los Angeles Times music critic Mark Swed, A Flowering Tree, "is a miracle opera based upon an ancient folk tale from India. Magic pervades the work’s atmosphere, and a blissfully beautiful two-hour score enchants from first bar to last ... The sounds are magical."

This weekend's performances, on Friday night and Sunday afternoon, featured the three singers who originated the lead roles, soprano Jessica Rivera as Kumudha, the girl with the power to transform herself into a tree; tenor Russell Thomas as the Prince; and baritone Eric Owens as the narrator. These performers are also featured on last year's Nonesuch album of the piece.

"The singing was exceptional," raves Swed. Rivera, he says, "has grown into a radiant soprano. Her deeply affecting Kumudha will be the model for all who follow her in this marvelous role." He describes Owens as "a compelling, moving narrator" and Thomas as a "commanding" Prince. Also performing was the Los Angeles Master Chorale, which, the reviewer writes, "nailed everything."

Read the complete review in the "Culture Monster" blog at latimesblogs.latimes.com.

Adams leads the New York premiere of A Flowering Tree this August for Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, where he will be artist-in-residence. For more information, visit lincolncenter.org.