March 13, 16, 18, 20, 2010
All performances 7:30 pm
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
In English with SURTITLES™

 “If you can make it to only one opera this year, it has to be Vancouver Opera’s Canadian premiere of John Adams’s minimalist masterpiece Nixon in China .” - Georgia Straight

In 1972, Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao shook hands and changed the course of human events. West and East looked into each other’s eyes and discovered a vast mystery of differences and desires. Henry Kissinger, Chou En-lai, Pat Nixon and Madame Mao all play pivotal roles in this fascinating drama of psychology and global politics.

John Adams’s richly textured post-Minimalist score pulses with rhythm and Alice Goodman’s literate libretto resonates with poetry. Nixon in China is irresistible and gripping from beginning to end.

CANADIAN PREMIERE!

Conducted by  John DeMain
Directed by Michael Cavanagh
Scenic Design by Erhard Rom
Costume Design by Parvin Mirhady
Lighting Design by Harry Frehner
Choreography by Wen Wei Wang
Projection Design by Sean Nieuwenhuis

Richard Nixon - Robert Orth
Mao Tse-tung - Alan Woodrow
Henry Kissinger - Thomas Hammons
Pat Nixon - Sally Dibblee
Chou En-lai - Chen-Ye Yuan
Chiang Ch'ing - Tracy Dahl