There are two DVD releases that I have watched of this film. The first, with greyish cover artwork, released in 2003 by Art Haus Musik, apparently in the series Composers of our Time, is entitled (on the cover) John Adams: A Portrait and A Concert of American Music (however the opening titles for the concert part read: A Concert of Modern American Music (see backdrops). It includes the documentary (opening title: John Adams: American Classic) clocking in at 52 minutes, and the concert, 81 minutes.

The second DVD, with "Americana" style red, white, and (mostly) blue artwork, released in 2009 by EMI/Warner Classics (catalog 16582), is entitled John Adams: American Classic. It consists of a re-edited version of the film, slightly longer (58 minutes), with additional footage here and there, notably of the film version of Klinghoffer. The interviews and the narration are the same as the earlier DVD release. The concert from the earlier release is not included here.

The documentary film itself appears to have been made in 2002, as evidenced by the copyright notice in the end credits.

Both releases are NTSC at 29.97 fps.

The concert in the earlier DVD release consists of the following program: (1) Steve Reich: Eight Lines; (2) Adams: Gnarly Buttons; (3) Conlon Nancarrow: Studies #1 and #7 for Player Piano; (4) Adams: Chamber Symphony.