NIXON IN CHINA

Nixon in China is a three-act opera composed by John Adams, with a libretto by Alice Goodman, premiered on October 22, 1987, at the Houston Grand Opera. This work, considered a foundational title of contemporary minimalist opera, recounts the historic visit of Richard Nixon to Mao's China in 1972, exploring the clash between two ideologically opposed worlds united by the media. Adams' score, with its rhythmic and hypnotic pulse, carves out historical figures as vulnerable beings between public image and existential doubt. The production, directed by Valentina Carrasco, presents an imaginative and visually striking staging, based on the pingpong diplomacy as a dramatic axis. The musical direction is handled by Cornelius Meister, while Thomas Hampson portrays Nixon and Marlis Petersen plays Nixon's wife.