February 9, 2011

Ever wonder what a political event would look like in operatic form? In 1972, Richard Nixon visited China for five days as millions watched from their television sets; in 1987 John Adams transformed this significant political event into an opera: Nixon in China.

Outlining Nixon’s visit to Communist China, the opera follows Richard and Pat Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Jiang Qing, Chairman Mao, and Zho Enlai throughout the Americans’ time in China. The characters express their hopes for the future and their doubts surrounding the lack of breakthrough in the relationship between the two countries.

Performed at the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts, Nixon in China starts at 7:30pm tonight. For more information on other performance dates and times, and to purchase tickets for this artistic take on a politically-charged event, go to http://www.coc.ca/.