Fleur Barron

Honestly, I was surprised because I read The Wealth of Nations when I was at Columbia, because that's one of the core texts that all the students have to read.

And, you know, back then, I remember it not being a very scintillating read.

It's very, obviously, dry sort of economic treatise, like an important example of like philosophical and economic thought then, and that still has a lot of ramifications for today, but not like an obvious choice of text for like a composer of vocal music, let's say.

I feel like composers would normally tend to be drawn towards something poetic.

But given that these concerts are a kind of birthday celebration, I think the piece is fabulous.

I mean, if you have a great composer, which David Lang is, then it's just pure joy.

And he's very collaborative.

He's also a professor, so he's really strong in communication.

We had our first in-person meeting just a few days ago when I got to New York because I live in London.

We talked about the piece over a drink and it was really nice to get to hear a little bit more about his personal connection and thoughts of when he was creating the work.

So those kind of conversations, that dialogue back and forth has been just such a pleasure.

If he's trying to change people's minds about Smith, he's trying to change people's minds about capitalism.