Nixon in China - Act 1
Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London, John Adams conducts Act 1 of his own opera Nixon in China, with soloists including Robrt Orth, and the Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Singers and Symphony Orchestra.
Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London
Presented by Andrew McGregor
John Adams conducts his stunning opera Nixon in China, with a star-studded cast, the Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Singers & Â鶹ÊÓƵAV SO. Alice Goodman's poetic, intensely original libretto is based on Richard and Pat Nixon's historic three-day visit to China in 1972. Protagonists viewed initially as transcendent iconic figures are not so much satirised as seen for what they are.
The score pounds away eclectically with nods to Broadway and rock, Minimalism and Igor Stravinsky, but there's no mistaking the identity of the composer, who conducts tonight, nor the colour and brilliance of one of the iconic works of our time.
The Anglo-American cast includes Robert Orth as Nixon, Jessica Rivera as Mrs. Nixon, Gerald Finley as Chou En-Lai and Kathleen Kim as Madame Mao.
Adams: Nixon in China - Act I
Madame Mao ..... Kathleen Kim (soprano)
Chairman Mao ..... Alan Oke (tenor)
Chou En-lai ..... Gerald Finley (bass-baritone)
President Nixon ..... Robert Orth (baritone)
Pat Nixon ..... Jessica Rivera (soprano)
Kissinger ..... James Rutherford (bass)
First Secretary to Mao ..... Stephanie Marshall (mezzo-soprano)
Second Secretary to Mao ..... Louise Poole (mezzo-soprano)
Third Secretary to Mao ..... Susan Platts (mezzo-soprano)
Mark Grey (sound director)
Paul Curran (stage director)
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Symphony Orchestra
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Singers
John Adams (conductor).
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- Wed 5 Sep 2012 19:00Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 3
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