Scored for a “rock band” of voices, clarinet, saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass and percussion, John Adams’ I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky, ranges in style from gospel and jazz to rock and pop. A combination of social criticism and love story, it chronicles the life of seven young Los Angeleans of different social and ethnic backgrounds, whose everyday speech patterns have been skilfully woven into a lyrical libretto by the late writer and civil rights champion June Jordan. John Adams’ post-minimalist musical language shines through the popular music disguise.