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Relations between United States and China were at a very low ebb during the 1970’s after the United States refused to recognize the People’s Republic of China, when the communists took power in 1949.
However, Henry Kissinger, who was President Nixon’s adviser secretly visited China to pave the way for a reconciliation between the two countries.
On February 21 1971, President Nixon made a State visit to China during which he met the Chinese prime minister, Chou En-Lai, as well as the former president Mao Zedong. Both leaders succeeded in reaching an understanding,
by expressing, in a communiqué, their wish to settle their differences peacefully, despite the remaining disagreements.
‘[Nixon] senses how important this Chinese week will be in History. [...] He’s not going to pass up this extraordinary opportunity of being the first American president to be invited to the Forbidden City, only nine months before an election. He is eagerly throwing himself into talks with Mr. Chou En-Lai. Four hours a day of private discussions with the world’s shrewdest diplomat? There’s nothing here that’s going to scare a man like Mr. Nixon, who thinks, speaks and writes nothing
but politics. Someone who has been an incredible opportunist throughout his career, but who, in the end, understands that these adversaries are from a different dimension’.
Here was an American opera reflecting on a recent historical event and exploring issues of contemporary media, politics, and culture. In its debut at the venerated Metropolitan Opera more than 20 years later, the work retains its cutting-edge status. Opera is still primarily seen as a vehicle for musical showmanship rather than as a means to convey social commentary. Peter Sellars restages his original mammoth production, and Mark Morris also repeats his 1987 choreography. It's a feast for the ears and eyes, with Sellars skillfully manipulating a huge cast amidst Adrianne Lobel's suggestive scenery and Adams' weirdly beautiful and insistent rhythms propelling Alice Goodman's poetic libretto.
Franco Pomponi (Richard Nixon),June Anderson (Pat Nixon),Alfred Kim (Mao Zedong), Sumi Jo (Mrs. Mao, Jiang Qing), Peter Sidhom (Henry Kissinger), Ensemble Orchestral de Paris Choir of Châtelet
Score: John Adams, Libretto: Alice Goodman, Musical direction: Alexander Briger, Direction: Chen Shi-Zheng, Sets and costumes: Shilpa Gupta
English
English, French
Production compagny : Telmondis
Coproduction compagny : Mezzo , Theatre du Chatelet
Running Time : 1x150’
Production Year : 2012
Distribution compagny : Telmondis distribution
Video Format : HD CAM, Digibeta 16/9