Who Was Adam

Polish violinist Adam Bałdych is a unique virtuoso of his instrument in jazz. However, he puts his virtuosity entirely at the service of the music - with a cultivated tone, a strong sense for sound and space and a talent for haunting melodies. All qualities that link him to the Sardinian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, one of Italy's most successful jazz musicians, who becomes Bałdych's musical partner in lyrical musical conversations on "Poetry".

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) wrote his first opera at the early age of 21, which over the next 25 years was to be followed by another seventy. From 1830 onwards his operas caught the attention of the public and remained on the programmes, which was unusual at that time. When in 1841 the sought-after opera composer was on yet another of his tours, he was approached by the manager of the Vienna Kärntnertortheater, Bartolomeo Morelli, who requested him to set Linda di Chamonix to music after a libretto by Gaetano Rossi. Donizetti, who was keen to establish himself in Vienna, having already done so in Paris and Milan, accepted the commission.