Presidents in Parody: Nixon in China
From February 21st to the 28th in 1972, President Richard Nixon traveled to China, vising Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. The trip was Nixon's proudest foreign affairs accomplishment of his presidency. Fifteen years later, in 1987, the trip was the subject of an opera written, coincidentally by a composer with the same name as a former President, John Adams, entitled Nixon in China.
Nixon in China is an opera in three acts written by Adams. It was Adams' first opera, and it premiered at the Houston Grand Opera on October 22, 1987. The producer was Peter Sellars (the American theater producer) and the choreographer was Mark Morris. Sellars approached Adams with the idea for the opera in 1985. Adams was said to be reluctant at first, but decided to do so and embarked on considerable research into Nixon's visit. Adams augmented the orchestra with a large saxophone section, additional percussion, and electronic synthesizer.
Here is a synopsis of the opera:
Act 1: At Peking Airport, Chinese soldiers await the arrival of the American presidential aircraft "Spirit of '76", carrying Nixon and his party. The military chorus sings "The Three Main Rules of Discipline" and "The Eight Points of Attention". After the aircraft touches down, Nixon emerges with Pat Nixon and Henry Kissinger. Nixon exchanges greetings with the Chinese premier, Chou En-lai, who heads the welcoming party. Nixon speaks of the historical significance of the visit, and of his hopes and fears for the encounter. The scene changes to Chairman Mao's study, where the Chairman awaits the arrival of the presidential party. Nixon and Kissinger enter with Chou, and Mao and the president converse as photographers record the scene. In the discussion that follows, the westerners are confused by Mao's comments, which are amplified by his secretaries and often by Chou. The scene changes again, to the evening's banquet in the Great Hall of the People. Chou toasts the American visitors and Nixon responds, after which the toasts continue, as the atmosphere becomes increasingly convivial. Nixon, a politician who rose to prominence on anti-communism, announces: "Everyone, listen; just let me say one thing. I opposed China, I was wrong".
Act 2: Pat Nixon tours the city, with guides. Factory workers present her with a small model elephant which, she delightedly informs them, is the symbol of the Republican Party which her husband leads. She visits a commune where she is greeted enthusiastically, and is captivated by the children's games that she observes in the school. She sings "I used to be a teacher many years ago and now I'm here to learn from you". She moves on to the Summer Palace, where in an aria she envisages a peaceful future for the world. In the evening the presidential party, as guests of Mao's wife Chiang Ch'ing, attends the Peking Opera for a performance of a political ballet-opera The Red Detachment of Women. This depicts the downfall of a cruel and unscrupulous landlord's agent (played by an actor who resembles Kissinger) at the hands of brave women revolutionary workers. At one point Pat rushes onstage to help a peasant girl she thinks is being whipped to death. As the stage action ends, Chiang Ch'ing sings an aria praising the Cultural Revolution and glorifying her own part in it. A revolutionary chorus echoes her words.
Act 3: On the last evening of the visit, as they lie in their respective beds, the chief protagonists muse on their personal histories in a surreal series of interwoven dialogues. Nixon and Pat recall the struggles of their youth. Nixon evokes wartime memories. Mao and Chiang Ch'ing dance together, as the Chairman remembers the early days of the revolution. Chiang Ch'ing sings that "the revolution must not end". Chou meditates alone and the opera finishes on a thoughtful note with his aria "I am old and I cannot sleep". The early morning birdcalls are summoning him to resume his work, while "outside this room the chill of grace lies heavy on the morning grass".
The original production in Houston received mixed reviews. Houston Chronicle reviewer Ann Holmes said of the work, "The music of "Nixon" catches in your ear; I find myself singing it while whizzing along the freeways." New York Times chief music critic Donal Henahan alluded to the publicity buildup for the opera by opening his column, headed "That was it?"
At the Metropolitan Opera premiere in February 2011, the audience included Nixon's daughter Tricia Nixon Cox. The Met performance is available on DVD and Blu-Ray here.
Following is an except from the opera:
Nixon in China is an opera in three acts written by Adams. It was Adams' first opera, and it premiered at the Houston Grand Opera on October 22, 1987. The producer was Peter Sellars (the American theater producer) and the choreographer was Mark Morris. Sellars approached Adams with the idea for the opera in 1985. Adams was said to be reluctant at first, but decided to do so and embarked on considerable research into Nixon's visit. Adams augmented the orchestra with a large saxophone section, additional percussion, and electronic synthesizer.
Here is a synopsis of the opera:
Act 1: At Peking Airport, Chinese soldiers await the arrival of the American presidential aircraft "Spirit of '76", carrying Nixon and his party. The military chorus sings "The Three Main Rules of Discipline" and "The Eight Points of Attention". After the aircraft touches down, Nixon emerges with Pat Nixon and Henry Kissinger. Nixon exchanges greetings with the Chinese premier, Chou En-lai, who heads the welcoming party. Nixon speaks of the historical significance of the visit, and of his hopes and fears for the encounter. The scene changes to Chairman Mao's study, where the Chairman awaits the arrival of the presidential party. Nixon and Kissinger enter with Chou, and Mao and the president converse as photographers record the scene. In the discussion that follows, the westerners are confused by Mao's comments, which are amplified by his secretaries and often by Chou. The scene changes again, to the evening's banquet in the Great Hall of the People. Chou toasts the American visitors and Nixon responds, after which the toasts continue, as the atmosphere becomes increasingly convivial. Nixon, a politician who rose to prominence on anti-communism, announces: "Everyone, listen; just let me say one thing. I opposed China, I was wrong".
Act 2: Pat Nixon tours the city, with guides. Factory workers present her with a small model elephant which, she delightedly informs them, is the symbol of the Republican Party which her husband leads. She visits a commune where she is greeted enthusiastically, and is captivated by the children's games that she observes in the school. She sings "I used to be a teacher many years ago and now I'm here to learn from you". She moves on to the Summer Palace, where in an aria she envisages a peaceful future for the world. In the evening the presidential party, as guests of Mao's wife Chiang Ch'ing, attends the Peking Opera for a performance of a political ballet-opera The Red Detachment of Women. This depicts the downfall of a cruel and unscrupulous landlord's agent (played by an actor who resembles Kissinger) at the hands of brave women revolutionary workers. At one point Pat rushes onstage to help a peasant girl she thinks is being whipped to death. As the stage action ends, Chiang Ch'ing sings an aria praising the Cultural Revolution and glorifying her own part in it. A revolutionary chorus echoes her words.
Act 3: On the last evening of the visit, as they lie in their respective beds, the chief protagonists muse on their personal histories in a surreal series of interwoven dialogues. Nixon and Pat recall the struggles of their youth. Nixon evokes wartime memories. Mao and Chiang Ch'ing dance together, as the Chairman remembers the early days of the revolution. Chiang Ch'ing sings that "the revolution must not end". Chou meditates alone and the opera finishes on a thoughtful note with his aria "I am old and I cannot sleep". The early morning birdcalls are summoning him to resume his work, while "outside this room the chill of grace lies heavy on the morning grass".
The original production in Houston received mixed reviews. Houston Chronicle reviewer Ann Holmes said of the work, "The music of "Nixon" catches in your ear; I find myself singing it while whizzing along the freeways." New York Times chief music critic Donal Henahan alluded to the publicity buildup for the opera by opening his column, headed "That was it?"
At the Metropolitan Opera premiere in February 2011, the audience included Nixon's daughter Tricia Nixon Cox. The Met performance is available on DVD and Blu-Ray here.
Following is an except from the opera: