About this Artist

New Zealand baritone HADLEIGH ADAMS has been featured in Opera News magazine and has received international acclaim for his performances on stage and in concert. He is renowned for his dynamic stage presence and ability to draw true, honest characters in his performances. His broad repertoire spans from Baroque and Bel Canto through Britten and to contemporary composition. He has collaborated with some of today’s greatest artists on the concert platform, and on the opera stage.

Hadleigh began his operatic education at the University of Auckland, gaining a Bachelor of Music with first class, first division honors and then completing his Masters of Music at the New Zealand School of Music. From there he was invited to join the New Zealand Opera as a company artist. In 2009 he relocated to Australia as the inaugural Gertrude Johnson Scholar at The Opera Studio, Melbourne. He then received a full scholarship to London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Rudolf Piernay and Janice Chapman, gaining a Masters of Music with Distinction, and completing the opera program with first class, first division honors.

Following his studies, Hadleigh made his debut at London’s Royal National Theatre singing the role of Christ in Jonathan Miller’s staged production of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, to critical acclaim. He performed in concert at London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields, the London Song Recital series, and has performed at the Wigmore Hall as a Voiceworks series artist.

Following these performances, Hadleigh was invited to join the Merola Opera Program at the San Francisco Opera. He was then invited to join the San Francisco Opera as an Adler Fellow, the first New Zealander to ever hold the position. During his two-year tenure with the company Hadleigh appeared in over 75 main stage performances with the company, and over 20 concert performances. His final performance with the company was in the role of Schaunard in La bohème.

In 2015 Hadleigh made his New York debut in R. B. Schlather’s production of Handel’s  Orlando at Whitebox NYC. This production, conducted by Geoffrey McDonald, won praise from critics for its visceral, modern treatment of the work. The New York Times wrote: “A muscular stud in head-to-toe skin-tight leather... Overseeing all is the magician Zoroastro, sung by Hadleigh Adams with a dark yet flexible bass and a glowering presence…”

Over the last year, Hadleigh has made debuts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,  London Philharmonia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony & Chorus, Opera Pittsburgh, Michigan Opera Theatre, Colorado Symphony, Opera Omaha, Cincinnati Opera, Oakland Symphony, Opera Parallèle, and Festival Opera. He is delighted to return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic for this performance of Young Caesar.

More information at hadleighadams.com.