673. What Is Money? - Freakonomics Radio | iHeart

<p>That’s what the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang wanted to learn. So he turned Adam Smith’s <i>The Wealth of Nations </i>into an oratorio. We tag along as Lang’s piece heads toward its world premiere with the New York Philharmonic. (Part one of a <a href='https://freakonomics.com/david-langs-the-wealth-of-nations/' rel='noopener noreferrer'>two-part series</a>.)</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>SOURCES:</strong> <ul> <li><a href='https://www.fleurbarron.com/' rel='noopener noreferrer'>Fleur Barron</a>, opera singer and mezzo-soprano.</li> <li><a href='https://davidlangmusic.com/about/' rel='noopener noreferrer'>David Lang</a>, composer and professor at the Yale School of Music.</li> </ul></li> </ul> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>RESOURCES:</strong> <ul> <li>'<a href='https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-20/gustavo-dudamel-s-the-wealth-of-nations-melds-opera-and-economics?embedded-checkout=true' rel='noopener noreferrer'>Finally, an Opera About Economics</a>,' by Stacey Vanek Smith <i>(Bloomberg,</i> 2026).</li> <li>'<a href='https://davidlangmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-little-match-girl-passion' rel='noopener noreferrer'>The Little Match Girl Passion</a>,' by David Lang <i>(2023).</i></li> <li><a href='https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207956/page/n3/mode/2up' rel='noopener noreferrer'><i>The Wealth of Nations</i></a><i>, </i>by Adam Smith (1776).</li> </ul></li> </ul> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>EXTRAS:</strong> <ul> <li>'<a href='https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/in-search-of-the-real-adam-smith/' rel='noopener noreferrer'>In Search of the Real Adam Smith</a>,' series by <i>Freakonomics Radio </i>(2022).</li> </ul></li> </ul><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href='https://pcm.adswizz.com'>pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>