This comment has received too many negative votesshow
A white Mao?!? A white Zhou Enlai?!? and terrible performances to boot?!? what nerve and disrespect for history. But what do you expect....white people fellating themselves as usual.
It's a pity the sound quality on this production is so much worse than the Met, because Houston's Mao is just lightning, a powerful and dangerous creature chained in a frail body. He overpowers the secretaries' chorus, where in the Met version it almost feels like the reverse; and in the Houston production there's just this chillingly appropriate savoring of every impenetrable word. An exact opposite for the archetypized Nixon - hard to see as Mao, but Mao in life as a stage presence.
It is a remarkable opera and is definitely surviving the test of time as a modern opera. It benefits from being one of Adams's early works, which has the raw energy of a young experimental composer. Im less of a fan of his later works.
Just brilliant. So different from anything before, and an amazing piece of minimalism. This scene stands out in my mind as one of the few times I was so nervous while watching a scene...when it ended, I finally relaxed.
Most compelling opera of the last forty years. Adams' triumph that his music appeals to such a broad cross-section of people, way beyond the normal limits of opera - see the success of his contribuation to Io sono L'amore, for example.
We need more of this -accessible, theatrical music that packs an emotional punch far more powerful than the usual self-focussed efforts of the high-priests of modern composition.
Honestly, I find the whole premise of this opera absurd, especially so comparatively soon in history after the event happened. And I could never listen to it live for fear that I couldn't keep a straight face for things like people melodiously singing things like "satellite communication has transmitted your message" or the like. That said, I find an odd sort of pleasure in this. And the rhythmic complexities are alluring.
@JeeRant well, I think the music is not good and very boring, always repeating itself, libretto very confusing, not poetical at all and the production suck... well, in my opinion at least. I'm for the great composers of the passed centuries, mostly
@cernacerna This Opera is one the the Greatest pieces of music EVER composed, yes James Maddalena is older now, but the Met allowed him to play the part, as he was the one who originated it. I know what Im saying now wont change your mind, but bear in mind what the people on that stage are doing isn't something most people in the world even dream of doing, can you? most likely not.
@broadwaywes I'm a classical singer, student of Krintján Johanssonn, and I quite know what I'm talking about. Again, this is just my opinion, but when I heard the singers comparing this to the Operas of the great Verdi, I just got even more pissed of! and besides, I noticed that so many production have always the same singers, they're probably the only one who wants to do it..
Mao: "There is a paradox: among the followers of Marx, the extreme left--the doctrinaire--tend to be fascist."
Nixon: "And the far right?"
Mao: "True Marxism is called that by the extreme left. Occasionally the true left calls a spade a spade...and tells the left it's right!"
And then Nixon's dumbfounded expression...absolute gold.
phorsic 2 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
A white Mao?!? A white Zhou Enlai?!? and terrible performances to boot?!? what nerve and disrespect for history. But what do you expect....white people fellating themselves as usual.
yerejay 9 months ago
It's a pity the sound quality on this production is so much worse than the Met, because Houston's Mao is just lightning, a powerful and dangerous creature chained in a frail body. He overpowers the secretaries' chorus, where in the Met version it almost feels like the reverse; and in the Houston production there's just this chillingly appropriate savoring of every impenetrable word. An exact opposite for the archetypized Nixon - hard to see as Mao, but Mao in life as a stage presence.
bmcprime 9 months ago 2
It is a remarkable opera and is definitely surviving the test of time as a modern opera. It benefits from being one of Adams's early works, which has the raw energy of a young experimental composer. Im less of a fan of his later works.
bluetagg 9 months ago 3
Just brilliant. So different from anything before, and an amazing piece of minimalism. This scene stands out in my mind as one of the few times I was so nervous while watching a scene...when it ended, I finally relaxed.
jpryan31 9 months ago in playlist Nixon in China 3
Where is part 1?
bjratchf 11 months ago
Most compelling opera of the last forty years. Adams' triumph that his music appeals to such a broad cross-section of people, way beyond the normal limits of opera - see the success of his contribuation to Io sono L'amore, for example.
We need more of this -accessible, theatrical music that packs an emotional punch far more powerful than the usual self-focussed efforts of the high-priests of modern composition.
Operataurus 1 year ago 2
Honestly, I find the whole premise of this opera absurd, especially so comparatively soon in history after the event happened. And I could never listen to it live for fear that I couldn't keep a straight face for things like people melodiously singing things like "satellite communication has transmitted your message" or the like. That said, I find an odd sort of pleasure in this. And the rhythmic complexities are alluring.
PaperSpock 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
what a piece of crap of musical attempt , just saw it from the Met, can't believe they made this production, it's just ridiculous...
cernacerna 1 year ago
I'm sorry you feel that way! What don't you like about it?
JeeRant 1 year ago 4
@JeeRant well, I think the music is not good and very boring, always repeating itself, libretto very confusing, not poetical at all and the production suck... well, in my opinion at least. I'm for the great composers of the passed centuries, mostly
cernacerna 1 year ago
@cernacerna This Opera is one the the Greatest pieces of music EVER composed, yes James Maddalena is older now, but the Met allowed him to play the part, as he was the one who originated it. I know what Im saying now wont change your mind, but bear in mind what the people on that stage are doing isn't something most people in the world even dream of doing, can you? most likely not.
broadwaywes 10 months ago
@broadwaywes I'm a classical singer, student of Krintján Johanssonn, and I quite know what I'm talking about. Again, this is just my opinion, but when I heard the singers comparing this to the Operas of the great Verdi, I just got even more pissed of! and besides, I noticed that so many production have always the same singers, they're probably the only one who wants to do it..
cernacerna 10 months ago
@cernacerna: exactly
yerejay 9 months ago
I love Maddalena's "wtf?" expression at the end there.
puritybrown 1 year ago
I love the meeting with Mao
barbacoa666 1 year ago
What a wonderful way to remember Saturday's wonderful production! Many thanks - Jane C
bjhcohen 1 year ago
Im working on a production of this at Canadian Opera Company right now. So Glad to get to see this entire show!!! THANK YOU!!
mshellnj 1 year ago
These uploads made my day. No, my week.
Thanxx
KUDOS !!!
faunflynn 1 year ago
Mao's business is being awesome.
Itsunobaka 1 year ago 2
I'm SPEECHLESS!
Speechless ... with delight!
flippert0 1 year ago 2
Man, I knew John Lithgow was a huge Adams fan but I was unaware that he had played Mao in the HGO version of NiC. hahahahaha
esmhorn 1 year ago
Yes, thanks for posting!
cborchar 1 year ago
The JeeRant is our hero, now, uploader, puts the videos out
The JeeRant is our hero, now, uploader, puts the videos out
We search Youtube, they're in our sight
These operas finally come to light
And video uploads one by one
Rise up beneath the harvest moon
lefredvoncarstein 1 year ago 36
You're...you're
you're....you're
you're you're you're you're you're
you're you're you're you're you're
WELcome WELcome
WELcome for the videoooooooos!
WELcome WELcome
WELcome for the videoooooooos!
JeeRant 1 year ago 33
@JeeRant Do you have the libretto?
Do you have the libretto?
The libre- the libre-
LibrettOOOOOOOOOO?
lefredvoncarstein 1 year ago
thank you so much for the upload!!!
g4thz 1 year ago