Vancouver Opera recently announced that we will be producing a new Nixon in China in March 2010 as part of our 09/10 subscription season.

I am very excited about producing this important and exciting – and contemporary! – opera. Written in the 1980s and dubbed the “first CNN opera” because of its topical content, Nixon in China explores one of the most important geopolitical events of the second half of the 20th century: Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing and the subsequent thawing of relations between the United States and China. While accurately referencing the major events of this historic visit, the opera delves into the minds of the players: Mao, Madame Mao, Richard and Pat Nixon, Henry Kissinger and Chou En-lai. We are privy to their thoughts, their inner conflicts, their reflections on their successes and their failures. A truly insightful and stirring work, penned by poet and scholar Alice Goodman.

This is a fitting work to be presenting in Vancouver during our province’s hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics: this country’s many intricate connections and intersections with China (hosting, of course, this summer’s Olympics – the nearest chronologically to Vancouver’s); the global subject matter of the piece which reflects the global thrust of the Olympics; the crisp, powerful contemporary musical score I believe that Vancouver audiences of all ages and all levels of opera-going experience will appreciate this work and connect with it on many levels.

I will; keep you posted on the development of this important project as we finalize the design concept and continue casting the work. Stay tuned!

James Wright