Theo Adam: Belting out the Bass for Bach
On August 1st, this important bass singer will celebrate his 90th birthday in his hometown of Dresden.
An early entrant into the world of classical music, German singer Theo Adam started out as a young member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor. It was in his hometown of Dresden that Adam first studied voice and commenced his career as a bass-baritone.
Adam’s operatic debut came about in the form of Weber’s Hermit in Der Freischütz. In 1952, Adam first appeared at the Bayreuth Festival, where he was noted and praised for his portrayal of Wagner’s heroes. During his early career, Adam performed alongside the Berliner Staatsoper, with guest appearances in the opera houses of classical music hotspots such as London, Vienna, Paris and Salszburg.
It was in early 1969 that Theo Adam debuted at New York’s Metropolitan Opera with the role of Hans Sachs in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Adam was renowned for his Wagner interpretations, but was also well respected for his performances of roles from operas composed by Mozart, Verdi and Strauss.
Most notably, Theo Adam is a top interpreter of Bach, and recorded many of his works throughout his career. Many happy returns to this bass-baritone!
For more than two decades, Adam was one of the most sought-after singers for the role of Wotan and Wanderer in Wagner’s ‘Ring des Nibelungen’, a part that he sang not only at the Bayreuth Festival but also at most major international opera houses too.
In addition to his great operatic roles, Theo Adam was also very active as a concert singer, appearing and recording many sacred and secular works, from Bach and Handel to contemporary music. Here we have a wonderful recording of Haydn’s ‘Creation’, taken in the GDR in 1960.
The range of Theo Adam’s voice was truly exceptional, allowing him to sing baritone repertoire such as the highly demanding title role in Alban Berg’s ‘Wozzeck’. Here we have an exciting live performance from Leipzig, conducted by Herbert Kegel and featuring several internationally famed singers including Reiner Goldberg, Gisela Schröter, Horst Hiestermann, and Ekkehard Wlaschiha.
As a former member of the famous Dresden Kreuzchor, Theo Adam was very familiar with Bach’s cantatas and oratorios, and he recorded many of those works for several record labels. He also regularly sang Bach’s works in concert.
Carl Loewe: Der Nöck, Op. 129 No. 2 (Theo Adam (bass), Rudolf Dunckel (piano), 1968)
The intimate art of lieder singing doesn’t suit all opera singers. Theo Adam was one of those singers who was able to adjust his big voice to the small form of the lied. Adam recorded many lied recitals including this precious collection of ballads and songs by Carl Loewe.
