Ondřej Adámek

Ondřej Adámek
Period: 2014-2015
Profession: Composer Ondřej Adámek was born in Prague in 1979. He has received numerous commissions (vocal works, for orchestra, choir, ensemble, or instruments and electronics) from prestigious contemporary music ensembles and festivals in Europe: Ensemble Intercontemporain, Klangforum Wien, Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, Festival Agora, among others. He is a graduate of the composition department of the Academy of Music in Prague (2004) and of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris (2007), and has received numerous international awards, including the Prix Métamorphoses (Brussels, 2002 and 2004), the Brandenburg Biennale Prize (2006), the Prix Hervé Dugardin – SACEM (2009), and the Prix Georges Enesco (2011). His work revolves around research into specific playing techniques for classical instruments, the creation of original new instruments and the development of novel systems combining video, electroacoustic sound and instrumental ensembles. Thanks to his in-depth knowledge of new instrumental possibilities, he achieves a specific sound color which, combined with powerful rhythmics and solid formal architecture, creates a personal music with a strong dramatic aspect. During his stay at Villa Medici, Ondřej Adámek worked on his first opera,
Seven Stones. Commissioned by the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and its director Bernard Foccroulle, this project is conceived for four solo singers and twelve chorus singers, who will also be asked to dance and play various musical instruments and objects. The elaboration and development of each component of the piece (libretto, score, staging, scenography, choreography, lighting) will be carried out simultaneously in close collaboration with the various artists. The set will not only play its conventional role in the aesthetics of the piece, but will also serve as an unusual and surprising musical instrument.