Never before heard of this opera, however I have become some what obsessed with Nixon In China, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said I have become obsessed with this opera.
Considering the irrational international tensions, perhaps this would be a good time to revive this brilliant opera to show that diplomacy has power and virtue.
Why is John Adams growing on me so much?...why have I only in the last few years heard of this stunning hidden genius of American music? First in Civ IV, then I heard "The Death of Klinghoffer," it stunned me...then I saw "Doctor Atomic" and I was floored by it... John Adams has tapped in to something...something cosmic.
I'm just now hearing Nixon in China, my first taste of Adams, and I'm shocked that I've never gravitated to it before, given my predilection for Philip Glass' works. If you're a Glass fan too, that would explain why it's growing on you. This seems very similar to The Photographer.
Unfortunately, paraphrasing John Adams himself, classical fans tend to be incredibly timid conservative, and music makers have to bow to market pressures. Many of us would rather hear Beethoven's 5th or 9th symphonies or Nachtmusik for the billionth time rather than try some new sonorities.
I absolutely love this section of Nixon in China--from the "Landing of the Spirit of'76" through "News Has a Kind of Mystery." Adams may be our greatest contemporary operatic composer.
I witnessed this brilliant production in Amsterdam in 1988 and this arrival scene at Beijing Airport of Nixon and his wife is the scene I most vividly remember. Great to see it posted here.
such a damn shame there's not the rest of the number uploaded here. the whole 'it's yesterday now home' part about 'grandpa's asleep, the homework is done, sounds of pop music coming from the street' is priceless.
I have seen John Adams here in London at the Proms and have been an admirer of his music for at least 20 years and I don`t think he gets enough credit for his wonderful acivements and his brave attempts to tackle controversal subject matter through his Music,Many Many Thanks for posting the Nixon In China excerpts Peace and Love Paul xx
i watched this on Tuesday in Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It was amazing! But I like how the aircraft just decends from the sky in this production. The Vancouver production features... (I guess I'll just stop as many people are still going to watch it).
Exciting！ Nixon who was a contemporary hero went down from the sky. This opera is one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.John Adams is a spiendid composer.Bravo！
@Cliodule - - this happens to be one of my favorite operas - i'm 61 and my 84 year old father loves this particular aria - "News" The MET will give it a premiere next year. I am happy for composers like John Adams who expand our knowledge of what is possible in opera. You think it's one sick opera and I think it's one glorious opera.
There is no 'should'-that's perhaps where you're going wrong. I listen to this wonderful music because I choose to, not because I feel obligated to. Isn't that how it should be?
They are doing it live in Denver next month. Not sure where you are, but it would be worth the trip. I wish I could go. I went to his El Nino in LA and it was awesome.
Maybe I can prevent further misunderstandings by explaining. First, my comment about "snobbery" was directed, not at this opera, but at a previous poster. I don't think this opera is snobbish. in fact, I really enjoy Nixon in China, along with other music by John Adams, which IMO deserves a wide audience. And when I described Adams as "the shit," and this opera as "sick," I was using those expressions jokingly, in their slang senses, to mean "excellent" and outstanding."
@Eiswirth You obviously haven't listened to much of Pultizer Prize-winning composer John Adams' music. On the contrary, his music is very imaginative and he is arguably one of the top 20 composers of the 20th century.
It's this kind of snobbery that turns many people away from opera and classical music. This type of music is composed and performed to be enjoyed--not worshiped. The symphony hall isn't a church, and the opera house isn't a cathedral. It's much better for people to watch and listen to this opera, and say it's "fucking epic," than for it to go unwatched and unlistened-to. Let me conclude by saying that, in my considered opinion, John Adams is the shit, and Nixon in China is one sick opera.
jackal59 i think it’s supposed to be “oh say can you see” mixed with the theme of this news has a certain kind of, kind of myst-ah-ree, mista-reeEeeeeeEeeee
1:10 Nixon arrives, waves 1:30 your flight was smooth? 2:46 into News aria 2:59 News Aria 3:47 though we spoke quietly 4:15 transforming us 4:53 On our flight (m. 476)
@ezev8logos thats like saying Indian food tastes better than Chinese food. they are not the same and should be admired for their individual characteristics. Adams uses minimalist techniques not used in French or Italian Operas. you cant say this is worse or better.
This opera does seem a little bit unusual at some parts, but the only reason I'm watching it is because it has a really awesome song in it called "The People are the Heroes Now"
@ezev8logos I disagree-- opera really focuses on more grandiose themes and should be enjoyable whether or not the music is in the listener's native language. It just so happens that "Nixon in China" is in English.
@neatodd not being present to see this one in person, I can't honestly agree or disagree, but Adams was a far greater conductor that I would've imagined.
It's a shame they couldn't find any Asian Opera singers, but I applaud this opera's creativity and class- the music is excellent and the singers are superb. Bravo!
@ezev8logos Sorry for the misunderstanding-- but I still disagree with you... I feel this is aiming for a completely different level. I understand where you're coming from, operas like Don Carlo are beautiful and in comparison this does kind of feel like some kind of off-beat musical. But if taken by itself, I really feel "Nixon in China" is one of the best contemporary operas. It takes a contemporary event and manages to bring a minimalist-sort of score which I think is simply beautiful.
@Danro05 that's because adam's isn't a minimalist, He was merely influence by them in the same sense that Schoenberg was influence by Mozart, and he rejected the movement. The only time I've ever heard him refer to his music as minimalist was in a self-depreciative joke
@yerejay I see where you're coming from, but it could just as easily be argued that such casting concerns have NEVER mattered in opera performance. Does that mean that they shouldn't matter to modern opera? No, of course not. Your point is well-taken, but if you allow your point to overwhelm what Adams accomplished here, you'll miss the point entirely.
Would be nice if they made a decent movie about Nixon in China. Nothing too flashy or extravagant,.....maybe something similar to "Frost/Nixion" (2008).
@alciefrederic I see that you are from Australia, which suggests to me that you are not familiar with the North-American slang I was using. In addition, certain grammatical errors in your post (e.g. "Expressing dislike if you like") suggest to me that English is not your first language. In any case, if you thought I was somehow insulting John Adams' Nixon in China, then it's you who doesn't understand. I am a great admirer of both the work and its composer.
I feel inclined to ask what's wrong with learning about a composer through school? Where else are we going to hear about it? Regardless, this is really an amazing piece of music.
"John Adams's Nixon in China: Musical Analysis, Historical and Political Perspectives" (2016) says it's referential of The Star Spangled Banner, though not a quote.
they were about to in 2004 if i'm not mistaken, it even was on one of their ad leaflets but for some reason they changed their mind. I got so gutted I started calling their administration. But no-one I got to talk to seemed to know the reason...
@todtubbi I'd have a hard time categorizing this as better than WWS or P&B, but it's pretty good. Adams does kinda grow on you... well, some of his stuff.
This is sort of like listening to Wagner, in fact it feels like a hollow imitation of Wagner to my ears, except with the poetry and solemn religious themes replaced with "news!!! NEWS!!!! news!!!! news news news!!!!!!!! newssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!"
@Danro05 A quick glance at his score would dispel that claim, unless you'd be willing to characterize Chopin Beethoven, Pachelbel, Ravel, Wagner, Schoenberg, and countless others as minimalist. Infact any genre distinction is just silly. Schoenberg is called serialist, but he wrote many of the world's most brilliant tonal works; Chopin is widely regard as the quintessential romantic, but He despised the entire romantic philosophy and did not give his works any romantic titles. The list goes on..
@MopsusHears I am an avid fan of both opera and most classical music. I have an extensive collection of opera on CD, which includes both Monteverdi and Glass. As a consequence, I'm pretty certain that you have misunderstood me--probably because, once again, my comment has become detached from its original context, and you have misinterpreted the slang expressions I was using. I suggest you go back over this thread, and try to understand what I said in its proper context.
@cdpete I'm glad to hear that you weren't frontin'. Otherwise, I might have been sorely tempted to bust your dome with my nine. Yo. But seriously--the problem here is that my comment has become detached from its context. I was butting in to the argument between chel3SEY and krayzgerman, on the side of KrazyKurry. For the record: your guess is correct; I do like both the opera, and its composer. In fact, I'm listening to the Doctor Atomic Symphony as I type this.
Never before heard of this opera, however I have become some what obsessed with Nixon In China, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said I have become obsessed with this opera.
I was there....it was incredible. A huge jet on the Met stage. Absurdly perfect.
Considering the irrational international tensions, perhaps this would be a good time to revive this brilliant opera to show that diplomacy has power and virtue.
This is a very good point.
Why is John Adams growing on me so much?...why have I only in the last few years heard of this stunning hidden genius of American music? First in Civ IV, then I heard "The Death of Klinghoffer," it stunned me...then I saw "Doctor Atomic" and I was floored by it... John Adams has tapped in to something...something cosmic.
I'm just now hearing Nixon in China, my first taste of Adams, and I'm shocked that I've never gravitated to it before, given my predilection for Philip Glass' works. If you're a Glass fan too, that would explain why it's growing on you. This seems very similar to The Photographer.
brykmantra I love Glass. Did Glass write the Einstein opera?
Unfortunately, paraphrasing John Adams himself, classical fans tend to be incredibly timid conservative, and music makers have to bow to market pressures. Many of us would rather hear Beethoven's 5th or 9th symphonies or Nachtmusik for the billionth time rather than try some new sonorities.
He is the 2nd POTUS
I absolutely love this section of Nixon in China--from the "Landing of the Spirit of'76" through "News Has a Kind of Mystery." Adams may be our greatest contemporary operatic composer.
its a minimalist opera
but the point is magnificently conveyed, especially if you are a fan of this time in history
I witnessed this brilliant production in Amsterdam in 1988 and this arrival scene at Beijing Airport of Nixon and his wife is the scene I most vividly remember. Great to see it posted here.
such a damn shame there's not the rest of the number uploaded here. the whole 'it's yesterday now home' part about 'grandpa's asleep, the homework is done, sounds of pop music coming from the street' is priceless.
I have seen John Adams here in London at the Proms and have been an admirer of his music for at least 20 years and I don`t think he gets enough credit for his wonderful acivements and his brave attempts to tackle controversal subject matter through his Music,Many Many Thanks for posting the Nixon In China excerpts Peace and Love Paul xx
Opera interessante in stile musicale minimalista.Grande musicista contemporaneo e' J.Adam.
I love this opera. Love it.
i have replayed this over and over again. both the music and the play are wonderful
What an amazing scene with the plane coming down. I'm not a huge opera fan but I have to see this one.
Patrik600ful, yes, that is James Maddalena. I saw this opera on PBS back in the 1980s. It was breathtaking.
I fuckin' love this opera.
Beautiful, I love it.
I like the intensity.
i watched this on Tuesday in Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It was amazing! But I like how the aircraft just decends from the sky in this production. The Vancouver production features... (I guess I'll just stop as many people are still going to watch it).
This was the first of a trilogy of presidential operas. The ones about Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were even better.
Opinunate ted thanks for mentioning the two others
Exciting！ Nixon who was a contemporary hero went down from the sky. This opera is one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.John Adams is a spiendid composer.Bravo！
This is absolutely wonderful.
Brilliant and different kind of opera! I hope to find time to see this.
@Cliodule - - this happens to be one of my favorite operas - i'm 61 and my 84 year old father loves this particular aria - "News"
The MET will give it a premiere next year. I am happy for composers like John Adams who expand our knowledge of what is possible in opera.
You think it's one sick opera and I think it's one glorious opera.
I saw it in LA as well - twice. Absolutely amazing. "Monumental" is right, and so emotionally overwhelming.
I heard this maybe 15 years ago. It's really a masterpiece.
Very beatiful Opera! In style minimalist music
Beautiful and exiting opera. I like it so much!
I don't care what anyone says. I just LOVE this! The harmonies are so entrancing :)
There is no 'should'-that's perhaps where you're going wrong.
I listen to this wonderful music because I choose to, not because I feel obligated to.
Isn't that how it should be?
They are doing it live in Denver next month. Not sure where you are, but it would be worth the trip.
I wish I could go. I went to his El Nino in LA and it was awesome.
trop bon!
ausgezeichnet!
big time!
thx for sharing,
alexander, fra
Just brilliant.
wonderful
The vocal and music are more important in opera than the theatre aspect of the performance.
Marvelous.
Man I love this!!!
Maybe I can prevent further misunderstandings by explaining. First, my comment about "snobbery" was directed, not at this opera, but at a previous poster. I don't think this opera is snobbish. in fact, I really enjoy Nixon in China, along with other music by John Adams, which IMO deserves a wide audience. And when I described Adams as "the shit," and this opera as "sick," I was using those expressions jokingly, in their slang senses, to mean "excellent" and outstanding."
@Eiswirth You obviously haven't listened to much of Pultizer Prize-winning composer John Adams' music. On the contrary, his music is very imaginative and he is arguably one of the top 20 composers of the 20th century.
I would love to see this opera..may be one day ..
It's this kind of snobbery that turns many people away from opera and classical music. This type of music is composed and performed to be enjoyed--not worshiped.
The symphony hall isn't a church, and the opera house isn't a cathedral. It's much better for people to watch and listen to this opera, and say it's "fucking epic," than for it to go unwatched and unlistened-to.
Let me conclude by saying that, in my considered opinion, John Adams is the shit, and Nixon in China is one sick opera.
I love the sly quotations from "Siegfried" (or is it "Götterdammerung"?) that sneak in here and there.
jackal59 i think it’s supposed to be “oh say can you see” mixed with the theme of this news has a certain kind of, kind of myst-ah-ree, mista-reeEeeeeeEeeee
incredible!
how is it not? Nixon singing opera=comedy gold.
Please put more John Adam's music on youtube!!! I am his fan
Love it, just love to see GOOD contemporary opera and classical, thanks to the library for introducing me to this, my first modern opera.
Many music "purists" object to this opera, but then they are still stuck in the XIX century and to then even Stravinsky is a disgrace.
Vancouver Opera is performing this in March 2010!
you are correct. backing you up.
I'm seeing it on Saturday!
1:10 Nixon arrives, waves
1:30 your flight was smooth?
2:46 into News aria
2:59 News Aria
3:47 though we spoke quietly
4:15 transforming us
4:53 On our flight (m. 476)
@ezev8logos thats like saying Indian food tastes better than Chinese food. they are not the same and should be admired for their individual characteristics. Adams uses minimalist techniques not used in French or Italian Operas. you cant say this is worse or better.
Thanks for upload, educative
This opera does seem a little bit unusual at some parts, but the only reason I'm watching it is because it has a really awesome song in it called "The People are the Heroes Now"
One part Richard Nixon, one part Paul Giamatti, one part opera singer.
I am beyond intrigued...
@ezev8logos I disagree-- opera really focuses on more grandiose themes and should be enjoyable whether or not the music is in the listener's native language. It just so happens that "Nixon in China" is in English.
I am a Chinese, it's my first time to see the event in this way!
@neatodd not being present to see this one in person, I can't honestly agree or disagree, but Adams was a far greater conductor that I would've imagined.
there is nothing more entertaining than seeing Nixon pull off opera cause theres nothing funnier than watching a stool pidgeon sing
I believe this is the song I want to hear as I breathe my last gasp, it is so perfect. "The prime minister knows about that. He's such a traveler."
It's a shame they couldn't find any Asian Opera singers, but I applaud this opera's creativity and class- the music is excellent and the singers are superb. Bravo!
i Like it
@ezev8logos Sorry for the misunderstanding-- but I still disagree with you... I feel this is aiming for a completely different level. I understand where you're coming from, operas like Don Carlo are beautiful and in comparison this does kind of feel like some kind of off-beat musical. But if taken by itself, I really feel "Nixon in China" is one of the best contemporary operas. It takes a contemporary event and manages to bring a minimalist-sort of score which I think is simply beautiful.
@Danro05 that's because adam's isn't a minimalist, He was merely influence by them in the same sense that Schoenberg was influence by Mozart, and he rejected the movement. The only time I've ever heard him refer to his music as minimalist was in a self-depreciative joke
it's a masterpiece. otherwise, the Met wouldn't have done it..
(and for many other reasons...)
Is this a great work? Maybe. Some of it is very exciting, and that is very close to greatness. Only time will tell.
@NOTMARBON
well, I'm sure no one will ever have as much class as you.
@yerejay I see where you're coming from, but it could just as easily be argued that such casting concerns have NEVER mattered in opera performance. Does that mean that they shouldn't matter to modern opera? No, of course not. Your point is well-taken, but if you allow your point to overwhelm what Adams accomplished here, you'll miss the point entirely.
Would be nice if they made a decent movie about Nixon in China. Nothing too flashy or extravagant,.....maybe something similar to "Frost/Nixion" (2008).
1:51 - LOL - Kissinger pops his head out (hysterical)
This is lit
It cuts out right in the middle of the song.
@alciefrederic I see that you are from Australia, which suggests to me that you are not familiar with the North-American slang I was using.
In addition, certain grammatical errors in your post (e.g. "Expressing dislike if you like") suggest to me that English is not your first language.
In any case, if you thought I was somehow insulting John Adams' Nixon in China, then it's you who doesn't understand. I am a great admirer of both the work and its composer.
@Cliodule Amen!
@robotummy Great news !
My ex and I watched this on January 15, 2014! Still funny, though!
I feel inclined to ask what's wrong with learning about a composer through school? Where else are we going to hear about it?
Regardless, this is really an amazing piece of music.
I think you should hear it on your local classical music radio station.
Hey, thanks for the answer. Seems rather obvious in retrospect :]
So I've been wondering about the "Smoo-hoo-hooo-th" bit. Is that a reference to another tune?
"John Adams's Nixon in China: Musical Analysis, Historical and Political Perspectives" (2016) says it's referential of The Star Spangled Banner, though not a quote.
yeah...i laughed when i first saw it, but then i couldn't stop watching
wow as a Chinese who plays civilisation 4, I am shocked by this...
Is that James Maddalena as Richard Nixon?
Yes
Isn't it? How can you actually take the idea of Nixon singing seriously?(not that I wouldn't seeing this. It looks excellent.
it's musical irony
@marineproductions1 Having met John Adams twice, it seems like he might have done a few things back in the day...
Incredible! Great singers! Would you mind posting their names?!
they were about to in 2004 if i'm not mistaken, it even was on one of their ad leaflets but for some reason they changed their mind.
I got so gutted I started calling their administration. But no-one I got to talk to seemed to know the reason...
@todtubbi I'd have a hard time categorizing this as better than WWS or P&B, but it's pretty good. Adams does kinda grow on you... well, some of his stuff.
What's WWS? P&B is Porgy and Bess, pretty sure.
Zhou Enlai (周恩来） for the WIN! Seriously...
This is sort of like listening to Wagner, in fact it feels like a hollow imitation of Wagner to my ears, except with the poetry and solemn religious themes replaced with "news!!! NEWS!!!! news!!!! news news news!!!!!!!! newssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!"
@todtubbi I don't know If it tops A Quiet Place, but its too close to call
(really?) Sure. Letting an actual B747 landing on the stage would have been so much easy and realistic...
2:59 news
@ezev8logos: Couldn't agree more...emphasis on the weird.
@robotummy Might just join you for that. Me being from the UK. ;)
wow that guy really looks like nixon. but who was the other guy? is he playing zhou enlai or mao?
@thekoanis Yeah, but this performance was much better IMHO.
@Danro05 A quick glance at his score would dispel that claim, unless you'd be willing to characterize Chopin Beethoven, Pachelbel, Ravel, Wagner, Schoenberg, and countless others as minimalist. Infact any genre distinction is just silly. Schoenberg is called serialist, but he wrote many of the world's most brilliant tonal works; Chopin is widely regard as the quintessential romantic, but He despised the entire romantic philosophy and did not give his works any romantic titles. The list goes on..
@MopsusHears I am an avid fan of both opera and most classical music. I have an extensive collection of opera on CD, which includes both Monteverdi and Glass. As a consequence, I'm pretty certain that you have misunderstood me--probably because, once again, my comment has become detached from its original context, and you have misinterpreted the slang expressions I was using. I suggest you go back over this thread, and try to understand what I said in its proper context.
@cdpete I'm glad to hear that you weren't frontin'. Otherwise, I might have been sorely tempted to bust your dome with my nine. Yo.
But seriously--the problem here is that my comment has become detached from its context. I was butting in to the argument between chel3SEY and krayzgerman, on the side of KrazyKurry.
For the record: your guess is correct; I do like both the opera, and its composer. In fact, I'm listening to the Doctor Atomic Symphony as I type this.
ASTRONAUTS!