John Adams: Nixon in China (2019)
Besides the landing on the moon by the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, Richard Nixon’s meeting with China’s leader Mao Zedong in February 1972 then represented one of the biggest media spectacles in history. Nixon himself established the reference between the two events: “We came in peace for all mankind” not only marked the lunar module Eagle’s landing spot – Nixon also spoke of it into the microphones just before his departure to China. It was not John Adam’s aim to create a superficial or even a caricaturing representation of Nixon’s visit when composing his opera. He attempted to create a “heroic opera” about the construction of modern myths by using archetypical characters and situations. Director Marco Štorman stages Adams’ minimal music opera as a deconstruction review about the power of images, the politics of staging and the staging of politics.
Director: Marco Štorman
https://www.staatsoper-stuttgart.de/en/schedule/a-z/nixon-in-china/
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Michael Mayes as Richard Nixon |
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Matthias Klink as Mao Tse-tung |
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Katherine Manley as Pat Nixon |
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Gan-ya Ben-gur Akselrod as Chiang Ch’ing |
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Shigeo Ishino as Henry Kissinger |
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Jarett Ott as Chou En-lai |
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Ida Ränzlöv as First Secretary to Mao |
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Fiorella Hincapié as Second Secretary to Mao |
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Luise von Garnier as Third Secretary to Mao |
| Sound | John Adams | Original Music Composer |
| Sound | André de Ridder | Music Director |
| Directing | Marco Štorman | Director |
| Crew | Alexandra Morales | Choreographer |
| Lighting | Reinhard Traub | Lighting Design |
| Crew | Ingo Gerlach | Dramaturgy |
| Writing | Alice Goodman | Writer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Sara Schwartz | Costume Designer |
| Art | Frauke Löffel | Set Designer |
| Directing | Marco Štorman | Stage Director |
