Theo Adam
Born in 1926, Theo Adam was one of the leading bass-baritones of the post-World War II era, particularly well known for his Wagnerian roles. He joined the boys' choir of the Dresden Kreuzchor in 1937, a traditional starting point for singers of that city. He began studying music in his hometown and in Weimar. He was called for military service in 1944 but resumed musical studies when the war ended.
His professional debut was at the Dresden State Opera in 1949, which led to a guest appearance in the 1952 Bayreuth Festival, which was also the year he joined the Berlin State Opera. Despite the handicap of living in the Soviet bloc, Adam was selected in 1963, after a few appearances in smaller roles, to sing the role of Wotan in Wagner's Ring at the Wagnerian shrine of Bayreuth in 1963. He later sang the other major bass-baritone and bass roles in many Wagner operas, including Hans Sachs, King Mark, Amfortas, and the Dutchman. Adam was also well known for the roles of Baron Ochs (Strauss' Rosenkavalier), Pizzaro (Beethoven's Fidelio), Wozzeck (Berg), King Philip (Verdi's Don Carlos), La Roche (Strauss' Capriccio), Don Giovanni (Mozart), and other important parts.
Adam appeared at the world's most prestigious venues, with debuts at the Metropolitan in 1963, Covent Garden in 1967, and the 1972 Salzburg Festival. He was also a highly esteemed oratorio singer. In addition to singing the Bach Passions and several cantatas, he was exceptional in the title role of Mendelssohn's Elijah.
Adam's interpretations were intelligent and dramatic, his voice robust. Beginning in 1977, Adam made regular television appearances on his show "Theo Adam lädt ein" (An ivitation from Theo Adam). The author of several books, Adam wase laureate of numerous awards, including the Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau, the National First Prize of the German Democratic Republic, and the title of "Chamber Singer of Austria." Adam died at the age of 92 in his hometown, early in 2019.
© TiVo
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Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium
Dresdner Kreuzchor, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Martin Flamig, Dresdner Philharmonie
Christmas Music - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Die Walküre
Birgit Nilsson, Leonie Rysanek, James King, Theo Adam, Bayreuther Festspielorchester, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BRAHMS, J.: Lieder (Adam)
Miscellaneous - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Das Rheingold (Live In Bayreuth / 1967)
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Elijah
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Così fan Tutte (Sung in Italian)
Staatskapelle Berlin, Chor der Staatsoper Berlin, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Otmar Suitner
Classical - Released by Eterna on 6 Jan 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Händel: Der Messias
Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Solistenvereinigung des Berliner Rundfunks, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Helmut Koch
Classical - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen - Kantate BWV 11, Zwei Duette aus BWV 140
Thomanerchor Leipzig, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Thomas, Theo Adam
Cantatas (sacred) - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott / Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Thomanerchor Leipzig, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Erhard Mauersberger
Cantatas (sacred) - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
DVORAK, A.: Rusalka [Opera] (Highlights) (Sung in German) (Mitzewa)
Staatskapelle Berlin, Chor der Staatsoper Berlin, Theo Adam, Arthur Apelt
Opera - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1952
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Requiem D Minor & Missa C Minor
Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Solistenvereinigung des Berliner Rundfunks, Helmut Koch, Theo Adam
Classical - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner, Dresdner Kreuzchor, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam
Opera - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Bastien und Bastienne
Adele Stolte, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Kammerorchester Berlin, Helmut Koch
Opera - Released by Eterna on 22 Jan 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Die Winterreise & Heine-Lieder / Wolf: Michelangelo-Lieder
Miscellaneous - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Arias
Classical - Released by Berlin Classics on 30 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rimsky-Korsakov: Mozart and Salieri (Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov - Alexander Pushkin)
Theo Adam, Peter Schreier, Peter Rösel, Marek Janowski, Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Opera - Released by Eterna on 24 Mar 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Così fan tutte (Highlights - Sung in German)
Staatskapelle Berlin, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Otmar Suitner
Opera - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Theo Adam in Opernszenen von Richard Wagner
Theo Adam, Staatskapelle Berlin, Otmar Suitner
Opera - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elisabeth Grümmer chante Mozart
Elisabeth Grümmer, Munich Radio Orchestra, Kurt Peter Eichhorn, Rudolf Schock, Theo Adam
Opera Extracts - Released by BR-Klassik on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cavalieri: Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo
Tatiana Troyanos, Theo Adam, Wiener Kammerchor, Ensemble Wolfgang von Karajan, Capella Academica, Wien, Charles Mackerras
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Elijah
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo