This week's LA Phil broadcast is filled entirely with John Adams' 1999 oratorio, "El Niño."

Conductor: Grant Gershon

John Adams: El Niño

Soloists:
Julia Bullock, soprano
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Davone Tines, bass
Daniel Bubeck, countertenor
Brian Cummings, countertenor
Nathan Medley, countertenor
Los Angeles Master Chorale

Described as a "nativity oratorio," El Niño retells the Christmas story with the first half focusing on Mary's thoughts before the birth in the stable in Bethlehem, and the second half covering the aftermath of the birth including the early life of Jesus.

Of the work, Adams says that he had wanted to write a Messiah of his own, a work confronting not only the Nativity of Christ but also the miracle of birth generally.