Jan Tomasz Adamus (Conductor, Organ, Harpsichord)

Born: June 16, 1968 - Poland

The Polish conductor, organist, harpsichordist and culture creator, Jan Tomasz Adamus, studied in Krakow and Amsterdam and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Sweelinck Conservatorium).and taught at the Academy of Music in Wrocław for a number of years.

Jan Tomasz Adamus is specialising in period performance of classical music ranging from Renaissance polyphony to Romantic symphony and opera. He has prepared many Polish premieres of great international repertoire for period instruments, which include J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion (BWV 244); George Frideric Handel's Messiah, Theodora, Hercules, Amadigi, Sosarme, Tamerlano and Rodelinda; L.v. Beethoven's Missa solemnis; W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, to name just a few. He has performed at a number of prestigious festivals and venues, most recently at Wratislavia Cantans, the Festival of Polish Music, the concert hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, SWD Festspiele Schwetzingen, Bachfest Leipzig and Händel Festspiele Halle. In particular, he is esteemed for his performances of vocal and instrumental pieces.

In 2008, Jan Tomasz Adamus was appointed General Manager and Art Manager of Capella Cracoviensis, an institution of culture which is a chamber choir and period instrument orchestra based in Krakow. In the recent years Capella Cracoviensis has become an exemplary model of successful management as the orchestra belongs to the most important ensembles in Europe specialising in historical performance while the reputation of the choir, because of the exceptional colour and vividness of sound, has been growing among the best record labels.

As a culture creator, Jan Tomasz Adamus stood behind the launch of Theatrum Musicum, a joint project developed by music institutions of Krakow which is turning into one of the biggest classical music scenes in Europe. Since 2000 he has been Artistic Director of the Festiwal Bachowski w Świdnica (Bach Festival Swidnica), one of the largest and most recognisable festivals organised outside major centres of musical life and, at the same time, a remarkably organic and culture-forming event. Between 2003 and 2008, he was Artistic Director of the Wrocław early music festival Forum Musicum, and from 2005 to 2008 a consultant to the International Festival Wratislavia Cantans. His numerous recordings include solo organ repertoire, Polish old music, Romantism on period instruments (Frédéric Chopin, Schubert) and contemporary music (Arvo Pärt).

Recently, together with Capella Cracoviensis, Jan Tomasz Adamus has carried out a number of extremely innovative stage projects including operas, crossover projects and social performances (W.A. Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, G.F. Handel's Amadigi di Gaula, Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice, Monteverdi in a milk bar, Felix Mendelssohn performed by a choir in the woods and W.A. Mozart’s Requiem as karaoke). He is involved in the work of Opera Europa, an international organisation for opera houses and festivals from across the world.

From 1995 to 2008, Jan Tomasz Adamus was a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Wrocław and a guest lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst) in Graz.

“In Augustusburg, the best European ensembles dedicated to historical performance arise one after another. After Freiburger Barockorchester, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and Concerto Köln, there was Capella Cracoviensis with its brilliant debut in Brühler Schlosskonzerte at the Haydn Festival. Adamus applies the German layout of the orchestra placing the first and the second violins opposite each other, which benefits the clarity of the score. With his unique gesticulation he impels the orchestra to perform with fabulous precision. An extremely vibrant sound can be heard from each stand. It is true joy to be able to experience these pieces with such intensity.” - Fritz Herzog, Bonner General-Anzeiger, September 29, 2013
“It has been long since I heard Messiah performed in such an interesting way, effortless and clear, and, simultaneously, lyrical and full of drama. Jan Tomasz Adamus prudently developed the architecture of this grand work, dividing it in two parts where the first one did not end with famous Hallelujah, as is the usual scenario, but finished earlier, with Lift Up Your Heads, a chorus full of grace. He also made a subtle reference to Handel’s tradition of performing the oratorio by starting the second part with Adagio from Handel’s organ concerto. Superb performance followed this interesting concept. I cannot remember when was the last time when I heard a choir singing so beautifully with such a perfectly even voice boasting a surprisingly rich palette of timbres and dynamics. Also the orchestra with concertmaster Fabio Ravasi sounded uniform, as if it were one instrument. One could feel it that each musician of Capella Cracoviensis thoroughly considered this interpretation and co-creation was a profound experience for them. The entire performance was one of the most interesting interpretations of Handel’s oratorios that I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.” - Anna Woźniakowska, Ruch Muzyczny, January 2015
“The concert version of Pergolesi’s opera Adriano in Siria staged in Versailles will be remembered as a beautiful experience, graceful and elegant, which was appreciated by the audience. The party responsible for this success, Capella Cracoviensis conducted by Jan Tomasz Adamus, is almost finitely perfect. It is a miracle of equilibrium, an excellent match for the beautiful and balmy acoustics of the Royal Opera which preponderates just like the main character of this opera seria. Great diversity of colours and accents excellently tailored for Pergolesi’s music, subtle variations of intensity and delicate legato determine the arising impression of elegance.” - Jean Luc Izard, operaphile.over-blog.com, December 6, 2015

More Photos

Source: Capella Cracoviensis Website (February 2016); Wikipedia Website (June 2015)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2016)

Jan Tomasz Adamus: Short Biography | Ensembles: Capella Cracoviensis
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works

Recordings of Bach’s Instrumental Works

Conductor

As

Works

Martyna Pastuszka

Organ

Member of {oh!} Orkiestra Historyczna:
[AV-1] (2012, Video): BWV 1080

Anna Szostak

Organ

[C-1] (1998): BWV 150

Links to other Sites

Jan Tomasz Adamus (Capella Cracoviensis)
Jan Tomasz Adamus on Facebook
Jan Tomasz Adamus (Wikipedia)
Jan Tom asz Adamus (Opera Rara Krakow)