Artist's albums
Mozart: Requiem; Coronation Mass; Ave Verum Corpus
2001 · compilation
FEUER
2000 · album
Berg: Lulu
1997 · album
Berg: Lulu
1997 · album
Christmas In Heaven
1995 · album
Wagner: Das Rheingold
1989 · album
Theo Adam singt Lieder von Richard Strauss
1984 · album
Bach: Messe in H-Moll (Highlights)
1984 · album
Bach: Messe in H-Moll
1983 · album
Rimsky-Korsakov: Mozart and Salieri
1982 · album
Parsifal
2023 · album
Mozart: Così fan Tutte (Sung in Italian)
2022 · album
Bach: Matthäus-Passion
2021 · album
Strauss: Daphne, Op. 82, TrV 272
2019 · album
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63 (Live)
2018 · album
Bach: Arias
2017 · compilation
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies
2017 · compilation
Britten: War Requiem
2016 · album
Einem: Dantons Tod, Op. 6
2016 · album
Wagner: Parsifal
2015 · album
Verdi: Don Carlos (Sung in German)
2015 · album
Wagner: Lohengrin (Live)
2015 · album
Loewe: Balladen
2013 · album
Similar artists
Gwyneth Jones
Artist
Gottlob Frick
Artist
George London
Artist
Karl Ridderbusch
Artist
Gustav Neidlinger
Artist
Kurt Böhme
Artist
Peter Schreier
Artist
Hans Hotter
Artist
Brigitte Fassbaender
Artist
Jess Thomas
Artist
Martti Talvela
Artist
Samuel Ramey
Artist
Margaret Price
Artist
Wolfgang Windgassen
Artist
Kurt Moll
Artist
Ruggero Raimondi
Artist
Biography
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.