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Adam Plachetka

Bass-baritone

  • Bass-baritone Adam Plachetka was born in Prague, Czech Republic in May 1985 and graduated from the Prague Conservatory in 2006. He won First Prize at Antonín Dvořák’s International Vocal Competition, along with numerous other awards and prizes, and became a member of the Ensemble at the Wiener Staatsoper in 2010, where his many role included the the title role Don Giovanni, Dulcamara L`elisir d`amore, Figaro Le nozze di Figaro and Il barbiere di Siviglia, Guglielmo Cosi fan tutte, Publio La clemenza di Tito, Mustafà L`Italiana in Algeri, Alidoro La Cenerentola, Conte Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro, Dottor Malatesta Don Pasquale, Paolo Albiani Simon Boccanegra and Riccardo Forth I Puritani.

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  • During the 2024/25 season, Plachetka returns to the Wiener Staatsoper for Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, and to the Metropolitan Opera as Il conte Le nozze di Figaro, and appears in concert with Arcangelo and the Czech Philharmonic. Last season, he debuted the role of Marcello La boheme for the Metropolitan Opera, sang Figaro Le nozze di Figaro in Vienna, and appeared in concert with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra (Semyon Bychkov) and Teatro all Scala Milan (Thomas Guggeis).


    Opera highlights of recent seasons include: Leporello, Guglielmo, Masetto Don Giovanni, the title role and Count Le nozze di Figaro, Garibaldo Rodelinda and Balstrode Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera; Count with the Houston Grand Opera; Alidoro at the Paris Opera; Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia and Papageno at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; Papageno at the Salzburg Festival; Dulcamara, Don Giovanni, Riccardo I Puritanti, Malatesta Don Pasquale, Mustafa Italiana in Algeri and Count Le nozze di Figaro at the Wiener Staatsoper.


    In 2005 Plachetka made his debut at the National Theatre in Prague and has since returned as Don Giovanni, Figaro Le nozze di Figaro, Nardo La finta giardiniera, Argante Rinaldo and Guglielmo. He has also appeared as Don Basilio Il barbiere di Siviglia and Papageno at the Prague State Opera. Plachetka is a regular guest artist of the Salzburg Festival, where he has performed in Benvenuto Cellini, Rusalka, Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.


    In September 2010, Plachetka became a member of the ensemble at the Wiener Staatsoper. After making his debut as Schaunard La bohéme, he performed Don Basilio, Melisso Alcina, Masetto, Don Giovanni, Dulcamara, Figaro, the Count, Guglielmo and Publio. Other engagements also include title role Le nozze di Figaro for his debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Houston Grand Opera, Belcore at the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and Spectre’s Bride at the Wiener Konzerthaus.


    In concert, Plachetka has worked with many eminent conductors including Valery Gergiev, Daniel Harding, Jakub Hrůša, Louis Langrée, Marc Minkowski, John Nelson, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Robin Ticciati and Franz Welser-Möst. He has recently sung Mozart Requiem for the Bayerische Rundfunk (Mariss Jansons) and Salzburg Mozartwoche, Beethoven Missa Solemnis with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic (Michael Tilson Thomas), and Bach Mass in B minor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Riccardo Muti). He has also performed with baroque orchestras such as the Camerata Antique Seoul, Collegium Marianum, Ensemble Baroque and Solamente Naturali, and made many recital appearances in Vienna, Prague, Graz and London.


    Adam’s discography includes ‘Handel’s Oratorio Arias’ with Czech Ensemble Baroque (released 2012), ‘Antonin Dvořák Songs’ with Gary Matthewman (released 2014), ‘Adam Plachetka LIVE Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana’ with Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů and Robert Jindra (released 2014) and two live recordings on the Deutsche Grammophon label; La Clemenza di Tito and Cosi fan tutte with Maestro Yannick Nézét-Séguin for the Baden-Baden Festival.

    2024-25 season / 582 words. Not to be altered without permission.

Performances

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Mr. Plachetka’s Figaro is athletic, both in physical movement and vocal projection. In his solo aria, ”Largo al factotum,” Plachetka negotiates leaps and hurdles on the stage while at once soaring to top pitches with equivalent ease. His breath control yielded a final, sustained pitch of remarkable evenness.
Opera Today

Tall and sturdy with a bass-baritone that rattled the opera house rafters, Plachetka could have simply overwhelmed everyone else on stage. But in addition to his strong, flexible voice, he is a gifted actor.
Chicago Sun-times

 

The role of Figaro is brilliantly presented by accomplished Czech bass-baritone Adam Plachetka. An outstanding singer and actor, Plachetka finds the best way to demonstrate Figaro’s energetic and merry personality. 
Chicago Daily Herald

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Intermusica represents Adam Plachetka

Julia Maynard
Director / Vocal & Opera
+44 20 7608 9902
jmaynard@intermusica.com

Natasha Worsley
Associate Director, Vocal & Opera
+44 (0) 7870 979 794
nworsley@intermusica.com

Jonathan Turnbull
Associate Artist Manager, Vocal & Opera
+44 20 7608 9907
jturnbull@intermusica.com

All artists

Chansonnier

HK Gruber

Counter-tenor

Tim Mead

Harpsichord

Richard Egarr

Piano accompanist

Roger Vignoles

Saxophone

Jess Gillam

Contralto

Avery Amereau