John Adams

b. 1947

Snapshot

English Deutsch

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 music-theatre works Nixon in China (1987) and The Death of Klinghoffer (1991) * 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 favoured 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)
El Niño (1999-2000) for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, three counter-tenors, chorus, optional childrens' chorus and orchestra

Looking ahead:
European premiere of Doctor Atomic Symphony (Aug); new production of Doctor Atomic at the Metropolitan Opera (Oct.)

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

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

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

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John Adams

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