It's not a likely topic for an opera, but Nixon in China has the scope that most romantic operas lack. Composed by John Adams and commissioned in 1987, the opera is considered one of the greats of the 20th century and often is described as minimalist. This can be misleading as "minimalism" conjures Philip Glass monotony and documentary austerity.
Not so, explains James Wright, director of Vancouver Opera.
"Minimalism is a catch-all phrase for something that has a lot of rhythm, a lot of beat." he points out. "It's a non-romantic style of music. It's a very contemporary sound. The term minimalism is about the music, not the look."
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