Opera

John Adams

Nixon in China

17 Apr, 23 - 02 May, 23

Musical Conductor: Olivia Lee-Gunderman and Kornilios Michailidis | Stage Director: John Fulljames | Principal Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real

17 Apr 23

Premiere

02 May 23

Last Performance

Shows

A title like Nixon in China for an opera could only be interpreted in 1987 as an intriguing gag or a daring gesture of militant postmodernism. Nonetheless, the grammatical structure of this title, with innumerable precedents from the opera seria tradition –Achille in Sciro– and buffa –Il turco in Italia–, tell us that we have an opera solidly rooted in the history of the genre here. That is to say: arias, ensembles, concertantes, choruses and even ballets. Far from being forgotten, Nixon in China has been seen on stage without interruption from the moment of its premiere until now, with performances of singing legends such as June Anderson or Sumi Jo.

With staging inspired by the Maoist ballet Red Detachment of Women, the libretto by Alice Goodman recreates the historic meeting of the President of the United States with the Great Helmsman, Mao Zedong, in February 1972. Making use of extensive iconography from the Richard Nixon Foundation and the Richard Nixon Museum, this production by John Fulljames (Street Scene at the Teatro Real in 2018) immerses the audience in this original reflection about culture shock, the exercising - and loneliness -. of power, and its authoritarian repercussions.

Opera in three acts

Music by John Adams (1947)

Libretto by Alice Goodman

Premiere at the Houston Grand Opera, 22 October 1987

Premiere at the Teatro Real

New production of the Teatro Real, in coproduction with Den Kongelige Opera de Copenhague and the Scottish Opera

Artistic team

Musical Conductor | Olivia Lee-Gunderman - 17, 21, 24, 26 and 28 april

Kornilios Michailidis - 30 april and 2 may

Stage Director | John Fulljames

Stage and Costume Designer | Dick Bird

Lighting Designer | Ellen Ruge

Choreographer | John Ross

Sound Designer | Cameron Crosby

Vídeo | Will Duke

Chorus Director | Andrés Máspero

Cast

Chou En-Lai | Jacques Imbrailo

Richard Nixon | Leigh Melrose

Henry Kissinger | Borja Quiza

Nancy T`ang (Mao's first secretary) | Sandra Ferrández

Second Secretary | Gemma Coma-Alabert

Third Secretary | Ekaterina Antípova

Mao Tse-Tung | Alfred Kim

Pat Nixon | Sarah Tynan

Chiang Ch’ing (Madame Tse-Tung) | Audrey Luna

Principal Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real

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Artistic information

Creative team

Musical conductor Olivia Lee-Gundermann

Musical conductor Kornilios Michailidis

Codirección de escena John Fulljames

Directora de escena asociada Lucy Bradley

Escenografía y vestuario Dick Bird

Concepto de iluminación Ellen Ruge

Coreografía John Ross

Diseño de sonido Cameron Crosby

Diseño de vídeo Will Duke

Chorus Conductor Andrés Máspero

Cast

Chou En-Lai Jacques Imbrailo

Richard Nixon Leigh Melrose

Henry Kissinger Borja Quiza

Nancy T'ang (Primera Secretaria de Mao) Sandra Ferrández

Segunda Secretaria Gemma Coma-Alabert

Tercera Secretaria Ekaterina Antípova

Mao Tse-Tung Alfred Kim

Pat Nixon Sarah Tynan

Madam Tse-Tung, Chiang Ching Audrey Luna

Nixon in China, de John Adams

Programa de mano

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Performances

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17 April 2023