March 1, 1971:
Thomas Joseph Edmund Adès is born in London, United Kingdom, one of three children born to Timothy Adès, a poet and translator, and Josephine Dawn Tylden-Pattenson, an art historian.
October 24, 1990:
Gefriolsae Me, an anthem for male voices and organ by Thomas Adès (19) to words of the Psalms, is performed for the first time, in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge.
February 24, 1991:
Chamber Symphony for 15 players by Thomas Adès (19), is performed for the first time, in West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, directed by the composer.
July 16, 1992:
Fool’s Rhymes for four vocal soloists, harp, prepared piano, organ, and percussion by Thomas Adès (21), is performed for the first time, in St. John’s College Chapel, Cambridge.
July 29, 1992:
Under Hamelin Hill for organ by Thomas Adès (21), is performed for the first time, in Ely Cathedral, Cambridge.
January 11, 1993:
Still Sorrowing for piano by Thomas Adès (21), is performed for the first time, in Purcell Room, London, by the composer.
October 17, 1993:
Life Story for soprano, two clarinets, and double bass by Thomas Adès (22) to words of Williams, is performed for the first time, in West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge. See 8 July 1994.
November 25, 1993:
Catch for piano, clarinet, violin, and cello by Thomas Adès (22), is performed for the first time, in Bristol.
February 11, 1994:
Living Toys for chamber ensemble by Thomas Adès (22), is performed for the first time, in Barbican Hall, London.
March 12, 1994:
…but all shall be well for orchestra by Thomas Adès (23), is performed for the first time, in Ely Cathedral, Cambridge. See 11 June 1996.
April 19, 1994:
Sonata da Caccia for oboe, horn, and harpsichord by Thomas Adès (23), is performed for the first time, in Birmingham.
July 8, 1994:
Life Story arranged for soprano and piano by Thomas Adès (23) to words of Williams, is performed for the first time, in Warwick. See 17 October 1993.
July 23, 1994:
Five Eliot Landscapes for soprano and piano by Thomas Adès (23) to words of TS Eliot, is performed for the first time, in Almeida Theatre, London, the composer at the keyboard.
July 25, 1994:
O thou who didst with pitfall and with gin, an anthem for male voices by Thomas Adès (23) to words of Omar Khayyam (tr. Fitzg), is performed for the first time, in Chester, Great Britain.
August 18, 1994:
Couperin, Les barricades mystérieuses for clarinet, bass clarinet, viola, cello, and double bass by Thomas Adès (23), is performed for the first time, in Dartington.
October 6, 1994:
The Origin of the Harp for ten instruments by Thomas Adès (23), is performed for the first time, in Free Trade Hall, Manchester, directed by the composer.
November 16, 1994:
Arcadiana for string quartet by Thomas Adès (23), is performed for the first time, in West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge.
June 25, 1995:
Cardiac Arrest for seven players by Thomas Adès (24), is performed for the first time, in Purcell Room, London.
July 1, 1995:
Powder Her Face, a chamber opera by Thomas Adès (24) to words of Hensher, is performed for the first time, in Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.
June 11, 1996:
…but all shall be well for reduced orchestra by Thomas Adès (25) is performed for the first time, in Osaka. See 12 March 1994.
July 20, 1996:
Traced Overhead for piano by Thomas Adès (25), is performed for the first time, in Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham.
September 12, 1996:
Slonimsky’s Earbox for orchestra by John Adams (49) is performed for the first time, in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, England. The work was commissioned by the Halle Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. Also premiered is These Premises are Alarmed for orchestra by Thomas Adès (25), is performed for the first time, in Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
October 1, 1997:
Asyla for orchestra by Thomas Adès (26), is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
October 28, 1997:
Concerto Conciso for piano and ten players by Thomas Adès (26), is performed for the first time, in Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, directed by the composer.
December 24, 1997:
The Fayrfax Carol for four vocal soloists, chorus, and organ ad.lib. by Thomas Adès (26) to anonymous 15th century words, is performed for the first time, in King’s College, Cambridge as part of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
November 11, 1999:
New works are performed for the first time, in Avery Fisher Hall, New York: Fraternité: Air pour l’orchestre by Hans Werner Henze (73), Vocalise for soprano and orchestra by John Corigliano (61), Oltra mar (Across the Sea) for chorus and orchestra by Kaija Saariaho (47) to words of Maalouf and Said, and America—A Prophecy for mezzo-soprano, orchestra, and chorus ad.lib. by Thomas Adès (28) to words of Chilam Balam and Matteo Flexa.
January 20, 2000:
January Writ for chorus and organ by Thomas Adès (28) to words of the Bible, is performed for the first time, in London.
October 29, 2001:
Piano Quintet by Thomas Adès (30), is performed for the first time, in Melbourne, Australia.
February 10, 2004:
The Tempest, an opera by Thomas Adès (32) to words of Oakes after Shakespeare, is performed for the first time, in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
February 10, 2005:
Scenes from The Tempest for four vocal soloists and orchestra by Thomas Adès (33) to words of Oakes after Shakespeare, is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles, directed by the composer.
June 16, 2005:
Court Studies for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano by Thomas Adès (34), is performed for the first time, in Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh.
September 4, 2005:
Violin Concerto by Thomas Adès (34), is performed for the first time, in the Kammermusiksaal, Berlin, directed by the composer.
April 21, 2006:
Three Studies from Couperin for chamber orchestra by Thomas Adès (35), is performed for the first time, in Basel, directed by the composer.
February 21, 2007:
Tevot for orchestra by Thomas Adès (35), is performed for the first time, in the Philharmonie, Berlin.
June 17, 2007:
Dances from Powder Her Face for orchestra by Thomas Adès (36) are performed for the first time, at Snape Maltings, directed by the composer.
April 28, 2008:
In Seven Days for piano, orchestra, and video by Thomas Adès (37), is performed for the first time, in Royal Festival Hall, London.
June 21, 2009:
Lieux retrouvés for cello and piano by Thomas Adès (38), is performed for the first time, in Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Suffolk.
February 10, 2010:
Mazurkas for piano by Thomas Adès (38), is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
March 14, 2010:
Concert Paraphrase on Powder Her Face for piano by Thomas Adès (39), is performed for the first time, in Chan Center for the Performing Arts, Vancouver, by the composer.
March 23, 2010:
Lieux Retrouvés for cello and piano by Thomas Adès (39) is performed for the first time, in Zankel Hall, New York.
January 26, 2011:
Polaris, Voyage for orchestra by Thomas Adès (39), is performed for the first time, in New World Center, Miami.
March 12, 2011:
The Four Quarters for string quartet by Thomas Adès (40), is performed for the first time, in Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York.
March 13, 2012:
Thrift for piano by Thomas Adès (41) is performed for the first time, in Auditorium Landowski, Paris.
July 17, 2013:
Totentanz for mezzo-soprano, baritone, and orchestra by Thomas Adès (42) is performed for the first time, in Royal Albert Hall, London, the composer conducting.
August 26, 2015:
Variations for Blanca for piano by Thomas Adès (45) is performed for the first time, in Théâtre de Vevey, Switzerland.
September 8, 2015:
Concert Paraphrase on Powder Her Face for piano-six hands by Thomas Adès (44) is performed for the first time, in Zipper Concert Hall of the Colburn School, Los Angeles.
October 8, 2015:
Thomas Adès (44) receives the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in Copenhagen.