Theo Adam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theo Adam
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Adam in 1987
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| Born | 1 August 1926 |
| Died | 10 January 2019 (aged 92) Dresden, Germany
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| Occupation | Opera singer (bass) |
Theo Adam (born August 1, 1926 – died January 10, 2019) was a very famous German opera singer. He had a deep voice, known as a bass-baritone or bass. Theo Adam sang in operas, concerts, and recitals all over the world starting in 1949. He was a key singer at the Staatsoper Dresden for his whole career. He also performed at the famous Bayreuth Festival for many years, from 1952 to 1980.
Adam was especially good at singing roles created by Richard Wagner. His most famous role was Wotan in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. He even sang this role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Besides opera, he was also a popular singer of music by Johann Sebastian Bach. He was also known for singing the main part in Mendelssohn's Elijah. Later in his life, he taught singing at the Musikhochschule Dresden.
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Theo Adam's Singing Career
Theo Adam was born in Dresden, Germany. As a boy, from 1936 to 1942, he sang in the Dresdner Kreuzchor, which is a famous choir. He served in the German Army during World War II. After the war, he studied singing privately from 1946 to 1949.
First Performances
Theo Adam made his first professional appearance, called a "debut," in 1949. He sang the role of Czernikowski in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov at the Staatsoper Dresden. Soon after, he sang the Hermit in Weber's Der Freischütz. In 1952, he joined the group of singers at the Berlin State Opera. He stayed a member of this opera house for his entire career.
Singing at Bayreuth
In 1952, Theo Adam first performed at the Bayreuth Festival. This festival is famous for showing only operas by Richard Wagner. Adam's first role there was Ortel in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He returned to Bayreuth every year for many years.
He took on many important Wagner roles, including:
- Heinrich der Vogler in Lohengrin (1954)
- Titurel in Parsifal (1954)
- Fasolt in Das Rheingold (1958)
- Wotan in Der Ring des Nibelungen (1963)
Over time, he also sang Amfortas in Parsifal, Hans Sachs and Veit Pogner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and the main role in Der fliegende Holländer at Bayreuth.
International Stages
Theo Adam also sang in many other famous opera houses around the world.
- In 1967, he made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London as Wotan.
- In 1969, he first appeared at the Salzburg Festival as Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier.
- Three years later, he returned to Salzburg to sing the main role in Alban Berg's Wozzeck.
- At the Theater an der Wien in 1970, he sang Pizarro in Beethoven's Fidelio. This was part of a celebration for Beethoven's 200th birthday.
- In 1972, he sang Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Vienna State Opera.
Metropolitan Opera Performances
Theo Adam first sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on February 7, 1969. He performed as Sachs in Die Meistersinger. Later that year, he sang Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. He returned to the Metropolitan Opera in 1972 for more performances as Sachs and Wotan. After 16 years, he came back one last time in March 1988 to sing Wotan in Die Walküre.
New Operas and Recordings
Theo Adam performed in several "world premieres." This means he was the first person to sing these roles in public. Three operas were even written especially for him:
- The main role in Paul Dessau's Einstein (1974)
- The main role in Friedrich Cerha's Baal (1981)
- Prospero in Berio's Un re in ascolto (1984)
In 1979, Theo Adam was given the special title of Kammersänger by the Vienna State Opera. This is an honorary title for a very distinguished singer.
Adam recorded many complete operas, including:
- Mozart's Così fan tutte (1969)
- Fidelio (1969 and 1979)
- Der fliegende Holländer (1968)
- Der Freischütz (1973 and 1985)
- Hänsel und Gretel (1970)
- Die Meistersinger (1970)
- Parsifal (1975)
- Der Ring des Nibelungen (1966–67 and 1980–1983)
- Tannhäuser (1968–69)
- Wozzeck (1970 and 1973)
- Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (1968)
He also made recordings of non-opera music, like Haydn's Die Schöpfung, Bach's Christmas Oratorio, and the Mozart Requiem. He often sang with the Münchener Bach-Chor, performing Bach's cantatas and Passions.
People praised Theo Adam for his strong voice, smart way of interpreting music, and his presence on stage. From 1979, he taught singing as an honorary professor at the Musikhochschule Dresden.
Theo Adam passed away on January 10, 2019, in Dresden.
See also
In Spanish: Theo Adam para niños
