![]() John Adams is one of the leading members of the school of composers widely described as minimalist, the earlier exponents of which include Philip Glass and Steve Reich. Scottish Opera première: Glasgow (Theatre Royal), 18 February 2020. John Adams (born Worcester, Massachusetts, 15 February 1947)įirst performance: Houston (Brown Theater, Wortham Center), 22 October 1987.įirst UK performance: Edinburgh (Playhouse Theatre), 1 September 1988. The combination of these elements varies frequently, to reflect changes in the onstage action.1988 - Houston Grand Opera Edinburgh 2011 - Metropolitan Opera Dundee 2011 - Metropolitan Opera Aberdeen 2011 - Metropolitan Opera Edinburgh 2011 - Metropolitan Opera Galashiels 2011 - Metropolitan Opera Glasgow 2020 - Scottish Opera Glasgow 2020 - Scottish Opera Edinburgh With these ingredients, Adams mixes Stravinskian 20th century neoclassicism, jazz references, and big band sounds reminiscent of Nixon's youth in the 1930s. ![]() ![]() Although sometimes described as "minimalist", the score displays a variety of musical styles, embracing minimalism after the manner of Philip Glass alongside passages echoing 19th century composers such as Wagner and Johann Strauss. To create the sounds he sought, Adams augmented the orchestra with a large saxophone section, additional percussion, and electronic synthesizer. Goodman's libretto was the result of considerable research into Nixon's visit, though she disregarded most sources published after 1972. When Sellars approached Adams with the idea for the opera in 1985, Adams was initially reluctant, but eventually decided that the work could be a study in how myths come to be, and accepted the project. The work premiered at the Houston Grand Opera on October 22, 1987, in a production by Peter Sellars with choreography by Mark Morris. Adams' first opera, it was inspired by the 1972 visit to China by US President Richard Nixon. Nixon in China is an opera in three acts by John Adams, with a libretto by Alice Goodman. ![]()
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