The American composer and conductor John Adams is one of the most performed living composers. His works are heard worldwide and often reflect significant political events, including the opera Nixon in China or his Pulitzer Prize-winning work in memory of September 11, 2001, On the Transmigration of Souls. Minimalism meets imaginative orchestrations and jazzy verve in Adams’ works, drawing attention both musically and intellectually to the relevance of classical music in our time. 

This year, John Adams is awarded the ​‘Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward’ for his life-time achievement. The award will be presented as part of a concert live stream of the Dresden Music Festival in New York on 30 May. The Knights will perform under the baton of Eric Jacobsen with Gil Shaham (violin) and Timo Andres (piano) as soloists.

In 2021, the ​‘Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward’, endowed with €25,000, will be donated by the watch manufacturer Glashütte Original and awarded together with the Dresden Music Festival for the 18^th time. Glashütte Original has been striving to preserve the unique heritage of the Glashütte watchmaking artistry since 1845 and, just like the distinguished artist, set the highest standards of quality for their works of art. Students of the manufacture’s own watchmaking school ​‘Alfred Helwig’ have created the award again this year. Previous award winners include Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, fado singer Mariza, Andris Nelsons, Steven Isserlis, Joyce DiDonato, Joshua Bell and singer Barbara Hannigan.

The award ceremony will be broadcast on 30 May at 20:00 on the website and the social media channels (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter) of the Dresden Music Festival. 

Programme:

The Knights; Eric Jacobsen, Conductor; Gil Shaham, Violin; Timo Andres, Piano

John Adams Shaker Loops and I still play; Pieces of Johann Sebastian Bach

The 44^th Dresden Music Festival will start on 24 May, 2021 with a week of live-streamed concerts and plans an adapted festival version for June.