John Adams
• Blends the rhythmic vitality of Minimalism with late-Romantic orchestral harmonies and colors
• Brought contemporary history to opera with his post-modern theatrical works Nixon in China (1987), The Death of Klinghoffer (1991), and Doctor Atomic (2005)
• Tackles 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 preferred by choreographers, with multiple ballet versions of Fearful Symmetries
• Winner of the Grawemeyer Award in 1995 by Violin Concerto and of the Pulitzer Prize in 2003 by On the Transmigration of Souls
• Series of recordings with the Nonesuch label, including several GRAMMY wins and nominations
• A recent survey places him as 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)
El Niño (1999-2000) for soprano, mezzo soprano, baritone, three tenors, choir, optional children's choir and orchestra.
The Gospel According to the Other Mary (2011) for orchestra, choir and soloists
John Adams is represented as a conductor by Jane Brown of Harrison Parrott.
Visit the John Adams website at www.earbox.com.
Looking Ahead: In September, Doctor Atomic Symphony and Absolute Jest receive their Romanian premieres with the Romanian Radio National Orchestra (Sep 3) and the Banatul Philharmonic Orchestra of Timisoara (Sep 9), respectively. Additionally, The Death of Klinghoffer is unveiled in Sweden for the first time with Norrlandsoperan (Oct 8-Nov 14).
Soprano Julia Bullock, a champion of Adams’s music in recent years, debuts as Cleopatra to Gerald Finley’s Antony in Adams’s recent opera Antony and Cleopatra at the Liceu Opera Barcelona (European premiere, Oct 28-Nov 8), conducted by Adams. Bullock also performs in multiple presentations around the country of El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered (a chamber version arranged by conductor Christian Reif) throughout November and December.
"Whenever serious art loses track of its roots in the vernacular, then it begins to atrophy." — John Adams
