CONDUCTOR
Adam Johnson is one of the most versatile and exciting young musicians to have founded his own orchestra in recent years. The Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra, of which he was both Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, attracted the attention of concert-goers in London since its formation in 2007 ('Thrilling' Classical Source 2011). Unique among the outstanding artists of his generation, Johnson is as equally at home conducting opera as he is fulfilling the role of soloist in concerto repertoire, playing chamber music, or directing his own large-scale compositions.
Adam began his International Conducting career aged 16 at the Glinka Accademia, St. Petersburg, and has subsequently appeared as Principal Conductor of Elemental Opera, RNCM Opera, and as Guest Conductor of Southbank Sinfonia, Suffolk Sinfonia, Oxford University Symphony Orchestra.
Winner of the Ricordi Operatic Conducting Prize whilst still studying under Sir Mark Elder CBE, Adam Johnson was invited to assist Ari Benjamin Meyers on his multi- media contemporary theatre work Il tempo di Postino as part of the Manchester International Festival. His outstanding contribution to the production led the following year to associate conductorship of the London première of Jonathan Dove's opera Flight with British Youth Opera under Nicholas Cleobury.
His subsequent operatic successes have included direction of Karol Szymanowski's rarely performed King Roger and Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia for Elemental Opera.
The composer Oliver Knussen has spoken of the 'extraordinary detail' of his performances.
Most recently Adam worked as an invited Repetiteur with Theater an der Wien on their production of “Where the wild things are” by Knussen. Conducted by Stephan Zilias, Adam also performed in the performances with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
Adam is proud to work closely alongside Macmillan Cancer Support and is the current Artistic Director for their annual London Carol Concert which aims to raise vital funds for Macmillan Nurses.
MUSICAL OPINION 2015
“Johnson gave a near perfect rendition, controlling the ever changing tempi and the contrasting emotional episodes, so that the ultimate goal of a kind of a stern serenity was reached in an entirely plausible way. The orchestra exceeded all expectations”
REVIEW BY
EDWARD CLARK 2013
“Adam Johnson conducted with care and much feeling for the carefully crafted string melodies that intertwine throughout the work…I was reminded of Sir John Barbirolli”
SATU JALAS (GRANDDAUGHTER
OF JEAN SIBELIUS)
“It was a special opportunity and pleasure to listen on February 22th 2013 at the St. Sepulchre Church to this growing orchestra with a particularly interesting and well chosen Nordic program, which expressed together with its conductor the beautiful and well balanced sound in the orchestra with extraordinary soloists.”
EDWARD CLARK 2011
“Adam Johnson’s won me over so that by the end I was as pulverised as any in the audience with a glow of spiritual well being.”
ŃORTHERN LIGHTS SYMPHONY ØRCHESTRA
Adam Johnson was the founder and Principal Conductor of the Ńorthern Lights Symphony Ørchestra for 14 years.
Formed in 2007, the ŃLSØ presented professional concerts at the highest level both in the UK, and worldwide.
The NLSO were unique across the world in their specialisation in repertoire of composers born within the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) region, and their innovative programming included composers from these territories alongside other orchestral works.
Delighted to be named Orchestra in Association with The Sibelius Society UK, the NLSO were proud of the international links they forged with Hurtigruten, SEB, IK Investment Partners, The Grieg Society, The Chopin Society UK, Vivienne Westwood, The Alwyn Foundation, Icelandair, The Finnish Embassy in London, Bristows Law, Hazlems Fenton LLP, and the support from countless patrons and global friends of the orchestra.
THOMAS ADES 2012
“Terrific”
PETER GRAHAM WOOLF 2012
“Resplendent”
THE SIBELIUS SOCIETY 2012
“Awe-inspiring”
DAME JOANNA LUMLEY OBE
“The night was little short of a glimpse into paradise”
