John Adams

b. 1947

Snapshot

John Adams has harnessed the rhythmic energy of Minimalism to the harmonies and orchestral colours of late-Romanticism * Brought contemporary history to the opera house with his post-modern operatic works Nixon in China (1987), The Death of Klinghoffer (1991), and Doctor Atomic (2005) * Has addressed urgent social issues with passion and empathy, both in his operas and in such works as I Was Looking at the Ceiling and then I Saw the Sky, El Dorado and The Wound-Dresser * His works are much favored by choreographers, with multiple ballet versions of Fearful Symmetries * Winner of the 1995 Grawemeyer Award for Violin Concerto * Series of recordings on the Nonesuch label * A recent survey shows him to be the most frequently performed living American composer of orchestral music.

Works by John Adams include:
Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986) for orchestra
Violin Concerto (1993)
Son of Chamber Symphony (2007) for chamber ensemble
El Niño (1999–2000) for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, three counter-tenors, chorus, optional children's chorus and orchestra.
The Gospel According to the Other Mary (2011) for orchestra, chorus and soloists

John Adams is represented as a conductor in North America by Ed Yim in association with IMG Artists and in Europe by Jane Brown of Harrison Parrott.

Also visit the John Adams website at www.earbox.com.

Looking ahead:Short Ride in a Fast Machine makes its mark on the summer when the London Philharmonic Orchestra plays in Liverpool on June 22 and in Manchester June 26. Bramwell Tovey leads the New York Philharmonic in Short Ride at Avery Fisher Hall on July 5 before taking it on the road to the Colorado’s Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival on July 26 * Adams will head to Australia to conduct the Sydney Symphony’s performances of his Violin Concerto, as well as the world premiere of his Saxophone Concerto with soloist Timothy McAllister at the Sydney Opera house, August 22 and 23.

"Whenever serious art loses track of its roots in the vernacular, then it begins to atrophy." — John Adams