Nixon In China

Nixon In China: Now Available for Rental

2010-05-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Opera's new production of Nixon in China is now available for rental!

Click on the images to see full size.

For more information:
Tom Wright tomwright@vancovueropera.ca
Terry Harper tharper@vancouveropera.ca
or call 604-682-2871 and ask for them

Why Nixon In China Was Worth The Risk

2010-05-06T12:41:00.001-07:00

Illustration credit: Edel Rodriguez

Producing an expensive, elaborate contemporary opera during a recession tested the company and community.

Vancouver Opera's decision to produce the Canadian premiere of John Adams's 1987 opera Nixon in China during this time was a tricky proposition. Why risk alienating audiences, subscribers and donors with a daring contemporary work? Why risk breaking a string of fiscally successful years? And why spend a lot of money on something that may not pay off at the box office?

General Director James W. Wright answer these questions in the Vancouver Sun. Click here to read more.

Putting Nixon In China To Bed

2010-03-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

VO has been overwhelmed by all the support and enthusiasm for our production of John Adams's contemporary opera. We're pleased to have brought it to Vancouver audiences and thrilled that everyone was open to giving modern opera a chance. Just wait to you see what we're cooking up for the world premiere of Lillian Alling!

Here at Vancouver Opera, we've been sleeping, breathing and living Nixon in China since the beginning of this year. It'll be hard to put this production behind us.

But we have photos and many nice comments to help us remember it all: the beautiful people (that means you!) who came out, and the hard work and talent it took to design a brand-spankin' new production (one that will make its way to other opera houses around the world). Remember, you saw it here first!

Fashion at the Opera

Behind the scenes

Eventually, all the catchy Nixon in China numbers that developed into earworms will be but fond memories.

civilization 4 soundtrack - people are heroes.mp3

Found at: http://www.filestube.com

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make Nixon in China a success!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

From Jazzilla to Nixon In China

2010-03-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Vancouverites packed the Queen Elizabeth Theatre recently for the Vancouver Opera's Canadian premiere of Nixon in China. Dubbed "the first CNN opera", the $1.4 million mounting of John Adams' acclaimed opera tells the story of the U.S. president's historic 1972 visit to China.

Championed by philanthropist and mega opera supporter Martha Lou Henley, Vancouver Opera's general director James Wright and board chair Alex Besharat welcomed patrons to the opening night celebrations. Among the bright lights in attendance were Mayor Gregor Robertson and his wife, Amy; U.S. Consul General Phillip Chicola and his wife, Vicky; Hassan and Nezhat Khosrowshahi; Moh and Yulanda Faris; Ori and Pam Kowarsky; Arlene Gladstone; Manjy Sidoo; Susan Van der Flier and Carmen Murphy.

Mixing music with politics to tell the tale of the momentous meeting between President Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao Zedong - a meeting that change the course of history and East-West relations - Adamas and libretist Alice Goodman turned operatic convention on its head with an ecletic mix of traditional symphonic writing, big-band utterances (a saxophone quartet), and a kind of '80s pop rock.

Sally Dibblee as Pat Nixon, Tracy Dahl as Madame Mao and Alan Woodrow as Mao delivered powerful performances, with special props to baritone Robert Orth, whose statemanlike characterization of Nixon was uncanny. Under the direction of John DeMain, the Vancouver Opera orchestra was finely tuned. Kudos to Wright and the Vancouver Opera for mounting a modern masterpiece during a time of recession and uncertainly. The investment paid off in spades.

"We are grateful to all who contributed," said Wright. "We are particularly grateful to Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad for its production sponsorship, the the B.C. Arts Council for its extraordinary support of the production and to Martha Lou Henley for her continuing generosity and for chamioning this important Canadian premiere.

As seen in the March 20, 2010 National Post: City Life-Parties, Culture & Society by Fred Lee

Nixon Redux

2010-03-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

At the end of the opera Chou En-lai muses, “How much of what we did was good?” The same can be asked about the VO’s historic sojourn into contemporary opera. Like Nixon’s visit to Beijing, I think this is a turning point of sorts. VO has proved that we can do contemporary opera spectacularly well: we have local forces in the chorus and in the pit who can cope with a very demanding score; and we seem to have a management team that can think well beyond the safety zone of the tried and true.

So good that Vancouver Sun's David Gordon Duke had to watch Nixon in China again. Click here to read more.

Vancouver Opera's Nixon In China An Extraordinary Musical Event

2010-03-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

The production starts with 800 individual video loops of citizens' faces filling the screen that drapes the large proscenium arch. Computer-generated imagery and video projections are tastefully utilized throughout the opera.

For more on Vancouver Observer's thoughts of Nixon in China, click here.

Do You Have The Time?

2010-03-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Maestro DeMain says Nixon in China has 1,850 meter changes during the course of the opera. That's an insane number but it appears to be true.

Nixon in China music: Act I, page 44

For the uninitiated, the meter, or 'time signature', tells the musician how to keep time while playing a piece. It tells the musician how many beats are in one measure of music, and what kind of note equals one beat. Time signatures are written like mathematical fractions at the start of each measure of music. Often one piece of music will have different time signatures, the concept being that a time signature continues until you see a new one.

The top number in the time signature denotes the number of beats in a measure (also known as a 'bar'). All this means is how high you count before you start over. If the number is a 3, you'd count 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc. If it is a four, you count 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. The top number can be pretty much any number you want.

Still with me? Good.

Now, the bottom number is the value of the note that constitutes "one" in your 1-2-3-4 count. Notes have values. They are Whole, Half, Quarter, Sixteenth, Thirty-second, Sixty-fourth.

So, the bottom number in a time signature can really only be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64.

The most common time signatures are 2/4, 3/4, 4/4. In each of these time signatures, the quarter note equals "one" when you count, because the bottom number is a 4. (When you divide a thing in 4, you get quarters - get it?)

And because 2/4 = two quarters, that means you count 2 beats per measure. 1-2, 1-2, 1-2.
A 3/4 time signature means you count 1-2-3, 1-2-3, and 4/4 means you count 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4.

Thus, it takes two quarter notes (or equivalent: four eighth notes, perhaps) to fill up a measure of 2/4 time, three quarter notes to fill up a measure of 3/4 time, and four quarter notes to fill up a measure of 4/4 time.

Here are some popular songs in notable time signatures:

2/4 - Bad Moon on the Rise by CCR

3/4 - Piano Man by Billy Joel, House of the Rising Sun by the Animals are both in 3/4, as is Lithium by Nirvana

4/4 - most everything else is in 4/4. Rock Around the Clock, most 50's music, most Motown.

Now for some unusual time signatures:

12/8 Time - Sea of Love by Phil Phillips, and Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley.

11/4 - Hey Ya! by OutKast is sort of 11/4. It uses mixed six measure phrases of three 4/4 measures, a 2/4 measure, and two 4/4 measures. (I learned this on the internet!)

13/8 - Turn it on Again by Genesis. The verses and choruses are in 13/8. Other parts are in 8/8, and 5/8.

11/8 - Blockhead by Devo. Verses are in 11/8 time, choruses in 4/4.

10/4 - Everything In Its Right Place and Go to Sleep by Radiohead are both in 10/4

9/8 - Broken Toy by Keane. First and second verses are marked 9/8 (although choruses use 6/8 or either 3/4).

7/4 - There are a lot of examples of rock and it is one of my favorites, here are a few:
Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel
Spoonman by Soundgarden. Verses in 7/4.
Soul Love by David Bowie
I Was Brought To My Senses by Sting. Intro is in 4/4, but the rest is 7/4.
Times Like These by Foo Fighters. Primarily in 4/4 but the main riff of the song is played in 7/4.

7/8 - is very similar and has:
2+2=5 by Radiohead.
What Would I Want? by Animal Collective
Them Bones by Alice in Chains
Pushing Forward Back by Temple of the Dog

5/8 - Red by King Crimson.

5/4 - is a famous "alternative" time signature - here's why:
Take Five by Dave Brubeck Quartet.

which is a great comparison with a modern example:
15 Step by Radiohead.

And here's some more 5/4
Mission Impossible Theme by Lalo Schifrin.
Seven Days by Sting

Great snippet: I popped out to talk to some orchestra members on break and they were all saying, "I can't stop counting!"

The demands of Nixon in China are such that with so many time signature changes, you are constantly counting 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4.....Can we say, maddening?!

Course, if you find yourself unable to sleep one night, perhaps one can use the time changes to count sheep....
1-2-3, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, 1-2-3......

~ Christopher Libby, Managing Director

Nixon In China Deserves Gold

2010-03-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Opera Association, celebrating its 50th anniversary, deserves a gold medal for its new Canadian-premiere production of Nixon in China. The organization has proven that, given the will and the talent, and with a supportive, non-interfering board, Vancouver can produce an artistic product that matches any internationally. It doesn't matter whether you like opera or not, run -- don't walk -- to the box office and get a seat.

Not in 40 years of working in the cultural community have I seen anything as engaging, relevant and downright entertaining as this production.

Special thanks to General Director James Wright for putting together a truly excellent team at the VOA and to the board of directors for taking the calculated risk of properly financing and backing the enterprise. You have won my gold medal to balance the tin can I am awarding the B.C. government for its attack on the cultural budget. Go, arts, go.

David Y.H. Lui
Impresario/producer,
Vancouver

Source: Vancouver Sun

Fan Fun At Fan Night

2010-03-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is your chance to geek out at Fan Night!

Come check out the pre-show talk with Assistant Stage Director Stephen Drover. He'll be giving up the secrets to the staging of Nixon in China. 6:30pm in the VIP lounge!

During intermission, come back to the uber-exclusive VIP lounge for coffee and bite-sized desserts. VIP bathroom included.

And there will be SWAG.

So how do you get in on this? Easy! If you already have your tickets for the Thursday, March 18 performance, just email lchan@vancouveropera.ca to be put on the exclusive Twitter/Facebok Fan Night guestlist.

But do it quick, because the guestlist is LIMITED.

Twitter/Facebook Fan Night sponsored by:

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Paint The Town Red

2010-03-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Opera's wardrobe department has got Pat Nixon's look down to a "T".

Referencing actual photos of the Nixons' visit to China in 1972, Parvin Mirhardy, Head of Costumes, and her staff re-created the exact wardrobe for Pat Nixon.

So why did Pat Nixon wear red for the most important and most photographed events?

For Chinese people, red is the colour of good luck. This bold colour is also associated with courage, loyalty, honor, success, fortune and happiness.

According to historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony, the visit to China was significant for Pat Nixon. It was her "moment" - the point at which she became an acclaimed First Lady for the United States.

When the world is watching, what better way to show off your power, potential and esteem than through the colour of your wardrobe?

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Are You On The List?

2010-03-16T12:14:00.001-07:00

Fan Night is this Thursday! And we're going to treat you right!

Check out the pre-show talk, where Assistant Stage Director Stephen Drover will divulge the secrets of the Nixon in China set. 6:30pm in the VIP lounge!

During intermission, come back to the uber-exclusive VIP lounge for coffee and desserts. This is also a great opportunity to mingle with other Nixon in China fans. Oh, and did I mention the VIP lounge has its very own bathrooms?

We will also give you swag.

So how do you get in on this? Easy! If you already have your tickets for the Thursday, March 18 performance, just email lchan@vancouveropera.ca to be put on the exclusive Twitter/Facebok Fan Night guestlist.

But do it quick, because the guestlist is LIMITED.

Twitter/Facebook Fan Night sponsored by:

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

So What Did YOU Think Of Nixon In China?

2010-03-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Fabulous. Electrifying and unbelievable. Fantastic. Authentic.

These are some of the adjectives our audience used to describe their experiences at Nixon in China. But that's not all. You really let us have it and you didn't hold back.

The staging was absolutely wonderful.

Incredible theatrically, vocally, everything. It was just amazing.

The orchestra was incredible with all the different changes.

The combination of ballet, of movement within the opera, I thought that was really quite intriguing and very well done.

Great to see the singers characterize the roles. I really saw Richard Nixon!

The lighting really did a wonderful job of high-lighting all of the sets, especially the rain effect. That was awesome.

The sets and costume are incredible.

It's nice to see Vancouver doing something alittle different. Innovative and modern. I highly recommend it.

I hope that Vancouver Opera will do some more pieces like this.

Video by Bombshelter Productions

And to quote one of our audience members, "Everybody's got to experience some modern opera."

Get your tickets now! Only 3 performances left! Call 604-683-0222 to speak to our box office.

See you down at the theatre!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Margaret MacMillan In Conversation With Alison Smith

2010-03-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

The eminent Canadian historian, author of Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World, converses about world events and world leaders, live on stage. There will be a Q&A session.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Granville Island Stage
Tickets: $18.

www.vancouvertix.com

Or Call call VancouverTix 604-629-8849

An Affair To Remember

2010-03-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Opening night of Nixon in China brought out some very special guests!

We had 2 Mayors, (one current, one past) 2 Ambassadors, 1 Senator and 1 Consul General in da house! Nixon in China was the place to be on Saturday!

From left: Jamie Bruce, Arlene Gladstone, Amy Robertson, Mayor Gregor Robertson, Yulanda Faris

From left: Bruce Wright, Raymond Protti, Ambassador John Negroponte, Sheila Protti

Maestro DeMain and San Francisco Opera's General Director David Gockley

Director of Artistic Planning Tom Wright and Maestro DeMain

Although Vancouver Opera's Music Director, Maestro Jonathan Darlington wasn't able to attend, his presence was certainly felt.

(in case you're wondering, "toi, toi, toi" is an expression of good luck for classical singers)

Toi, toi, toi indeed! Nixon in China's opening night turned out to be wildly successful and definitely, one for the books!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Nixon in Vancouver, via China

2010-03-15T12:03:00.001-07:00

Photo by Tim Matheson

The most dramatic moments in the production come from a magnificent dance sequence in the second act in which the Nixons visit the Peking Opera to see a ballet. The wildly dynamic dance, created by acclaimed choreographer Wen Wei Wang, tells the story of a peasant girl pursued and attacked by an oppressive landlord and his henchmen. The sequence gives the opera some of its most breathtaking moments, and includes some surreal and blackly comic action from a randy Henry Kissinger, who inserts himself into the ballet's storyline in a rather disturbing way.

Another Vancouver Sun review! To read more, click here.

Operatic Thugs: Nixon in China

2010-03-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Photo by Tim Matheson

But here's the good news -- the bigger the risk, the bigger the payoff. As in Vancouver Opera's admirable decision to mount the Canadian premier of John Adam's Nixon in China, the most exciting production seen here in many years. It also helps mark Vancouver Opera on the cultural map as a place where new ideas can thrive.

To read more from The Tyee, click here.

Vancouver Opera's Nixon in China An Artful Triumph

2010-03-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile, scenic designer Erhard Rom and projections designer Sean Nieuwenhuis conjure endlessly inventive tableaux. Red podiums and chairs are exaggerated to towering heights. News reels play out, fragmented acrossed placards or mismatched scrolls that hang from the ceiling. By the end, everything is an abstract mess of memories and afterthought, with a banquet table piled high, red ribbons stretching at odd angles, and a slanted banner morphing Nixon spookily into Mao.

To read more of the Georgia Straight's review on Nixon in China, click here.

Nixon in Vancouver: A Triumphant Visit

2010-03-14T11:22:00.001-07:00

At the end of the last act of John Adams’s opera Nixon in China, the character Chou En-lai asks: “How much of what we did was good?” We may not be able to answer that question as it refers to the political events in the opera. But ask it of this particular production of Nixon in China, by Vancouver Opera, and it’s easily answered. What you did was good, very good indeed.

Nixon in China, which takes as its point of departure Nixon’s groundbreaking visit in 1972, has been a long time coming to Canada. Pierre Trudeau may have gotten to China a year earlier than Nixon did, but Adams’s opera, which premiered in 1987 at Houston Grand Opera, has never been this far north before. This production, conducted by John DeMain (who also conducted the world premiere in Houston), and directed by Michael Cavanagh, is new. Planned during the recession, it was a financial stretch for Vancouver Opera. It is also a stunning production.

To read the rest of the Globe & Mail review, click here.

Nixon in China: A Review

2010-03-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

The production is nothing less than superb and goes across the board: the direction of Michael Cavanagh, John DeMain conducting the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the scenic design of Erhard Rom, the costuming of Parvin Mirhady, and especially the singing. Here we have the untouchable Robert Orth as Richard Nixon, Sally Dibblee as Pat, Tracy Dahl as Madame Mao, Alan Woodrow as Mao, ChenYe Yuan as Chou-En lai and the faultless Vancouver Opera Chorus, which has a very big part here. The audience was rapt.

To read more of Lloyd Dick's Vancouver Scene, click here.

Vancouver Opera's 'Nixon in China' A Brilliant Canadian premiere

2010-03-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

Photo by Tim Matheson

The six principals play out the musical hands they’ve been dealt with striking commitment. The part of Chinese premier Chou En-lai, the most poetic and lyrical, is given a dignified but slightly stiff delivery by Chen Ye Yuan; Thomas Hammons makes the most of Chou’s counterpart Henry Kissinger, his strong bass-baritone voice balanced by an equally strong presence. As Chairman Mao, tenor Alan Woodrow draws a massive part, heroically conceived and vocally taxing, latent with both menace and pathos.

Sally Dibblee embodies Pat Nixon, the most essentially likable of the characters, with cool authority. Vocal fireworks are the province of soprano Tracy Dahl, whose show-stopping da capo aria “I am the wife of Mao Tse-tung” brings the second act to a chilling close. They form a strong, cohesive ensemble. But baritone Robert Orth in the title role deserves special mention: His voice seems made for Adams’s music. His physical characterization is unnervingly accurate; his clear and unaffected diction perfectly conveys Goodman’s wordy but rich texts.

For more from the Vancouver Sun review, click here.

Chinese in Vancouver Then and Now: 1972-2010

2010-03-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Weren't able to make it to Opera Speaks down at Vancouver Public Library last Tuesday?

Check out Rice Paper Magazine for a great recap with some snappy soundbites of the evening!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Bloggers Take On The President & The Chairman

2010-03-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

Meet our Nixon in China Bloggers!

Our bloggers will be joining us on opening night Saturday, March 13 to blog about all the glitz, glamour and fantastic singing at the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China.

There's no need to be shy or cyber-stalker-ish. Just stop by and say hi to our friendly bloggers in the main lobby of the QET. Heck, you may even be inclined to buy 'em a drink! We'll also be posting their thoughts along the sidebar to the right here.

Clockwise from top left: Darren Barefoot, Tris Hussey, Raul Pacheco, Emme Rogers and Gus Fosarolli

So come along for the ride as they take our behind-the-scenes tour and stay on for the Nixon in China after-party. It's going to be one doozy of a night!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Twenty Questions with Alan Woodrow

2010-03-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

Toronto born heldentenor Alan Woodrow is well known in Europe, having gotten his start as principal tenor for the English National Opera (ENO). Alan also appeared at La Scala, Paris Opéra Bastille, Frankfurt Opera and Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Most recently, Alan starred in Peter Sellar's production of Tristan with the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. In a neat twist, stage director Peter Sellars had produced the very first Nixon in China with Houston Grand Opera in 1987.

Vancouver Opera's Nixon in China will be the second time Alan has sung the role of Chairman Mao Tse-tung.

VO caught up with Alan for a round of 20 Questions:

Guilty musical pleasure?
Country & Western.

Where do you love to sing?
Whilst cutting the grass on my ride-on mower at my home in rural Ontario.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Sharing a good meal and a fine wine with my family.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Gluttony!

Who are your favourite heroes/heroines of fiction?
Jack Reacher

Who are your favourite characters in history?
Alexander Graham Bell

Who are your favourite heroes/heroines in real life?
Margaret Thatcher

Who is your favourite author?
Tom Clancy

Your favourite musician?
Horst Stein

Your favourite composer?
Richard Strauss

What quality do you most admire in a person?
Honesty

Your favourite virtue?
Tenacity

Your favourite occupation?
Airline Pilot

What did you want to be as a child?
Airline Pilot

Your most marked characteristic?
Impatience with people who are incompetent.

What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty but also honesty

For what would you like to be remembered?
My sense of humour.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?
The gift of being conversationallyl fluent in many languages.

What is your motto?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

What non-opera song do you rock?
Come into the Garden Maude by Balfe.

Nixon in China Via Vancouver

2010-03-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Through using actual footage of the trip that was secured through the Nixon Library and the archives of both China and the United States, the production also features an on-stage camera crew documenting the live action. All the image are instantly mixed together to make the point about the unblinking eye and how the TV camera records everything for posterity, effectively giving it the power to reduce people's lives to one or two statements.

...Calling his production "fantasia," (Michael) Cavanagh likens Nixon in China to a "big long dream sequence" and a "highly impressionistic version of what actually happened in 1972."

For more from Director Michael Cavanagh, click here.

Twenty Questions with Robert Orth

2010-03-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Some artists are just born to sing certain roles. Baritone Robert Orth has become the definitive Richard Nixon in John Adams' Nixon in China. Robert has played Nixon for St. Louis Opera, Opera Colorado, Chicago Opera, Portland Opera and Vancouver Opera. He will go on to reprise the role for the Canadian Opera Company in 2011.

As Robert is the world's leading interpreter of Richard Nixon, it came as no surprise that he was chosen to sing the role in a new recording of the Nixon in China CD. (2009)

We spent a few minutes with Robert Orth to ask him our "20 Questions."

Guilty musical pleasure?
I’m pretty guilt-free about music. Should I feel guilty about liking Michael Buble?

Where do you love to sing?
On stage.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Being with our family and friends in our garden, in perfect weather, having a great conversation and a fantastic meal.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Sloth. Is doing Sudoku a fault?

Who are your favourite heroes/heroines of fiction?
Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird

Who are your favourite characters in history?
Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harvey Milk

Who are your favourite heroes/heroines in real life?
Barak Obama, Muhammad Yunus (inventer of Micro-credit), Greg Mortenson (builds schools in Central Asia), Michael Moore

Who is your favourite author?
John Irving, Ann Lamott

Your favourite musician?
Don’t make me choose.

Your favourite composer?
Ravel, Vivaldi, Bach, Bernstein, Rossini, and too many living composers to mention.

What quality do you most admire in a person?
Indiscriminate kindness

Your favourite virtue?
Love.

Your favourite occupation?
Singing Actor

What did you want to be as a child?
A missionary or a “child star”

Your most marked characteristic?
Ambivalence

What do you most value in your friends?
Generosity of spirit and a great sense of humor

For what would you like to be remembered?
Being kind and generous more often than not, and funny

What natural gift would you most like to possess?
Dance.

What is your motto?
The secret to happiness is not getting what you want, it’s wanting what you got.

What non-opera song do you rock?
The Green-Eyed Dragon with the Thirteen Tails

Nixon in China: The Trailer

2010-03-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

Your first look at Vancouver Opera's Nixon in China:

Video by Bombshelter Productions & Mike McKinley

Multimedia projections, a live on-stage camera crew, singing and dancing! This is modern opera at its grandest!

Tickets going fast! Call 604.683.0222 to get yours today!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Somebody's Watching You

2010-03-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

It's all about the eyes.

Nixon in China is watching you. From the pillars, to the backdrop, to the portraits and the scrim, there will be a profusion of faces staring out into the audience nightly.

You're being watched. Look your best.

Here are some pictures from dress rehearsal last night:

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Operating Outside The Comfort Zone: Nixon in China

2010-03-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Photo by Tim Matheson

In some ways Nixon is an opera about the conventions of opera. This, in turn, creates layers of post-modern irony, making it a work of and for our age. Consider the two sopranos: the odious Madam Mao (sung in this production by Tracy Dahl) is a queen of the high Cs; the utterly unflamboyant Pat Nixon (Sally Dibblee) is a down-home girl happy to talk about her days on the farm. Henry Kissinger (Thomas Hammons) manages to embody both the sinister and the comic dimensions that have long been the operatic turf of basses. (Hint: pay particular attention to the "play within a play" in the second act). The philosopher commentator Chou En-lai (Chen-ye Yuan) is a baritone, as is Richard Nixon (Robert Orth). In opera land baritones are usually too clear-headed to die for love or fight the dragon: that's what tenors are for. Heldentenor Alan Woodrow sings the role of Chairman Mao.

Photos by Tim Matheson

Each of the three acts contains innovative operatic set pieces. The first grand effect is the landing of a transcontinental jet - a great opportunity for stagecraft, while the real spectacle is churning away down in the orchestra pit. The second act includes a Red Chinese "ballet" scene (lots of resonances there!) which takes on a surreal dimension. And the Maos dance a retro fox-trot in the third act, triggered by Madame Mao's quaint invitation to her spouse: "We'll teach these motherf---ers how to dance!" All very post-modern.

Click here to read more from the Vancouver Sun.

VO Chief's Thoughts On The Right Time For Change

2010-03-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

Photo credit: Glenn Baglo

Nixon is very much a calculated risk. We never once considered pulling it from the season when the economy tanked. In the difficult year of 2010, we are presenting our two most expensive projects ever. - James W. Wright

For more on VO's General Director James W. Wright in the Vancouver Sun, click here.

Tricky Dick, Operatic Everyman

2010-03-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

In other words, Adams and Goodman wrote the kind of opera that their audience wanted, without resorting to the usual expedient of doing something that sounds sort of like Verdi or Puccini. The chugging arpeggios and rippling scales of Adams’s minimalist craft drive several scenes, and are seldom absent altogether. But he also lets his lyrical muse run free. Listening to the recent live recording by Opera Colorado, I was struck by how much beautiful music Pat Nixon gets to sing while she tours a model farm.

For more on the Globe & Mail article, click here.

John Adams's "Nixon in China" Receives Canadian Premiere at Vancouver Opera for 2010 Cultural Olympiad

2010-03-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

...Adams's first opera, Nixon in China, will receive its Metropolitan Opera premiere in February 2011 with the composer in his own Met debut at the podium. But audiences won't have to wait till next year to experience the groundbreaking work, as it receives its Canadian premiere in the Vancouver Opera production opening tomorrow, March 13, at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The presentation, which includes three additional performances this month, is part of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

To read more, click here.

Vancouver Opera's Ninja Girl is Back!

2010-03-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

A superpower nation. A sleeping giant. What happens when 2 world leaders meet and all niceties fall to the wayside?

Drunken debauchery? Gunshots fired? The two Mrs. pitted against each other? Some very R-rated language sung by one of the characters?

What's truth? What's rumour? In politics, anything can happen.

Follow Ninja Girl on Twitter: Opera Ninja or on the right hand side bar of the blog for all the fly-on-the-wall action.

Tonight starting at 6pm.

~ Ninja Girl

Behind the Scenes: Nixon in China

2010-03-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

BANG!

Got your attention?

Here's your first look at the backdrops, props and costumes you'll see in Nixon in China!

More wows, more surprises, more photos to come.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Opera That's Still On Key

2010-03-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

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."

To read the rest of the Province article, click here.

Vancouver Opera Brings In Chairman Mao & President Nixon

2010-03-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

But what makes this opera unique is the contemporary subject matter: It's a piece of political history that transpired in many of the audience members' lifetimes and helped change the city they live in. It's hard not to come away from Nixon In China without reflecting that this was the moment, the meeting of the sleeping giant and the superpower, that changed everything.

Click here for the Vancouver Sun story.

Margaret MacMillan and Nixon in China

2010-03-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

In my final blog before Nixon in China opens at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, I want to talk about Margaret MacMillan, her appearances in Vancouver, and influence on me as I travelled the route of thinking about, deciding on and producing the opera.

Before I ever thought of producing Nixon in China, I read MacMillan’s award-winning book Paris 1919. I learned so much about the treaty of Versailles: the behind-the-scenes negotiations, the rigid demands of the victors, the thwarted hopes of so many smaller countries and minority groups. The backstage machinations of players major and minor were operatic! The book also made clear to me how that process did so much to set the stage for continuing instability and, indeed, for World War II. In short – Paris 1919 was a key in my more mature understanding of 19th and 20th century European history, and a pivotal experience in directing my interest toward more non-fiction and world history.

As I began to contemplate producing John Adams’s and Alice Goodman’s opera, I turned early-on to MacMillan’s equally-fascinating, equally enlightening book Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World (also published in the US as Nixon and Mao: The Week that Changed the World). It has been interesting to read her account of events depicted in the opera: hers always perhaps more factual, of course, and more detailed, and always illuminating of the events depicted in the opera.

I honestly don’t remember now who first suggested I contact Margaret MacMillan about coming to Vancouver during our production. Was it an involved member of the board of directors? Was it a patron who knew Margaret? Was it me? I don’t remember and only care because I’d like to give proper credit. The fact is, I did contact her first through her publisher and then through a mutual friend; I was surprised and excited that she was eager to be a part of our activities surrounding our performances, and so pleasant to deal with as we worked through the various arrangements and logistics required to have her in Vancouver for two public appearances during the run of the show.

Her book has been instrumental, as well, to the creative team that has conceived this new production and Canadian premiere. I have seen well-thumbed copies in the opera offices and on the scenic design tables. Cast members have referenced her work regularly.

It is seldom that one has the chance to attend an opera about people we have read about in the daily newspaper and have grown up “knowing;” it is also rare to have the opportunity to interact with a renown historian and author who has brought us close to these characters and such an incredible, world-changing event as the meeting between Mao and Nixon. I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity!

Dates and times and details of Margaret MacMillan’s appearances in Vancouver and performances of Nixon in China are available on our website.

~ James W. Wright, General Director

And The Winner Is...

2010-03-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

Folks, we have ourselves a winner!

"I was opposed to China" was the magic phrase to the Where's Nixon? contest and 59 of you responded on our Twitter or Facebook page.

So without further ado....

Click play for the winner of our random draw:

Congratulations to the winner! Please email lchan@vancouveropera.ca for your prize!

Thanks to everyone for playing!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Nixon In The City

2010-03-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what the schedule of a busy man like Richard Nixon looks like?

With only days to go before the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China, he continues to take Vancouver by storm! Word must be getting out about his public appearances because there were nothing but victory signs and shouts of "It's Tricky Dick!" as Nixon made his rounds.

Here's how Nixon's day went:

Reading the morning paper

Hanging out at Robson Square post-Olympics style. Too bad the zipline wasn't open. I would've been down with that.

Window shopping, taking in some art, checking out the library

Remembering to stop and smell the roses

I'm a little bit country, you're a little bit rock n' roll

Checking out HMV and what do I find? My movie and CD!

And my poster!

An unexpected surprise! Someone at HMV had recommended me! Note to secretary: hire Will at once.

Wrap up meeting with General Director of Vancouver Opera, James W. Wright

Nixon will make an appearance at the Vancouver Opera offices tomorrow to draw the winner of the 'Where's Nixon?' contest. Make sure you've entered by 1:00pm Wednesday for your chance to win 2 tickets to Nixon in China and $150 gift certificate to Chambar Restaurant.

For more pictures of Nixon in the city, click here.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Painting Nixon in China

2010-03-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Feast your peepers on these snaps!

Here's a couple more pictures that were taken during the construction of the Nixon in China set.

Scroll painting

Set painting

Photos courtesy of Blankenship Company

Looks like fun, doesn't it?

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Behind the Scenes with Super Kuei-ming

2010-03-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

February 26
A rainy day, off to the hall for rehearsal. As I enter the rehearsal hall, I see some dancers warming up, stretching and practicing their steps. The assistant stage managers are busy sweeping the floor extra clean for them because some were dancing in barefeet. I recognize some of these dancers because they were local well-known and respected artists, such as Wen Wei, Fei, Amber, etc. Sometimes, I see them at Harbour Dance Centre.

We also had the principles in with us today. It was an exciting day because all of us were here, except the camera crew supers.

Another birthday gal today and we sang Happy Birthday to Katherine. Lots of birthdays this month with Jason, Rae and Katherine, and was so beautiful to see people caring.

We ran the ballet scene and boy, were these dancers the most beautiful and agile people I have ever seen. It makes me humble to think I will be sharing the same stage with these artists.

Because it's the Olympic time, the casts were secretly texting and listening to the scores on the radio. Of course, Canada wins!

Also, we ran the "Red Book" song. It's about the Mao's Little Red Book that was supposed to change people's lives. Gosh! It must be a really good book if these people are so fascinated about it...made me want to go and read it myself to see what's so great about it.

After the rehearsal, we left the bright hall into the dark rainy world and the cheering Olympic crowds.

February 27
Today's rehearsal is only for the supers. I guess supers need more time to practice. It was only 12 hours ago since I was last in the rehearsal hall, and seeing the familiar faces is still comforting.

Today was one of the most embarrassing days for me. I was told to ride a bike across the stage and (having not ridden one for about 9 years) crashed into the table and floor. I was thinking the director would give up on me for the bike gig because I am so clumsy, but he asked me to keep practicing. I am absolutely terrified of bikes because I used to dream of falling into ditches in Taiwan. It is a time to face the fear of falling!

Later, we practice the airplane scene, removing objects and also the sky banners. It is a productive day because we get through many scenes.

March 1
Finally, the Olympic crowds are gone! That kind of big excitement happens once in a blue moon in Vancouver, and it was nice to have that kind of spirit here. Unfortunately, all the hockey watching and cheering have caused our beloved director to lose his voice. He was barely whispering in rehearsal. There were also some students who came to watch us. The eyes are on us, yikes!

We have to be very quiet today since Michael cannot speak very loudly. We repeated the beginning scene and the banquet scene over and over again. I really enjoy the meticulous practice til it's perfect.

The banquet scene is tricky because we have lots of cups and props to handle. There are either too many props or not enough of them; since we don't have a wine bottle for every super, Stephen asked some of the supers to be the "bottle pourer's friend" and just follow them around.

March 2
Rehearsal is the only thing I was look forward these days (and nights). Life seems so much better in the land of make-believe! I love being surrounded by lovely music and dancing.

Tonight, we run the ballet scene and the scenes of Pat Nixon touring China. I really admire those beautiful dancers. How I wish I could move like them! They are so graceful.

My greatest fear in this whole show is riding the bicycle. Crowds and bicycles just don't belong together! Thank goodness people like Malcolm and Polina believe in me. They are on bicycles too!

March 3
I feel that the cast is starting to know each other better and talk to each other more. Everyone is so supportive.

Another birthday: Glenn. We sing Happy Birthday again!

Tonight, we connect all the scenes together, which really helps me figure out the transitions. I am amazed with how Michael can visualize the stage so well and directs us in achieving the ideal. With just a few chorus members and supers, we can create the streets of China!

Again, the music and dance never fail to move me. My favorite music is during the pig farm scene: it's cute but slightly sad. There is lots of interesting stuff, such as dragging the dancers onto the stage for a bloody execution!

March 5
This is the last night we rehearse at the Holy Rosary Hall. I can tell people are becoming more comfortable in their roles and each other as they have more fun. We run through the entire opera and it comes out to be around 3 hours.

We have another birthday boy: Doug. We sing Happy Birthday and eat chocolate cake. I really like the cast. They are so much fun to be around.

The singers are really great! I am always moved by their voices. ChenYe, Robert and Thomas are quite good in acting. I like watching the women who play Mao's secretaries too, especially Grace. They really add to the show.

Nixon in China Is Neglected No Longer

2010-03-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

As a subject for books, plays and films, Nixon, who died in 1994, remains ever fascinating. China, of course, has been ever on our minds. But the opera faded from the limelight, remaining on the fringes...

But now "Nixon" is back and big time. On Saturday, Vancouver Opera will unveil a new production as part of the Canadian city's lingering 2010 Cultural Olympiad. The following Saturday, Long Beach Opera will present a different new production at Terrace Theater, the first Southern California staging of the opera since Los Angeles Opera's in 1990. Last month, the Metropolitan Opera announced that it has invited Sellars to re-create his "Nixon" production in New York next season, and the composer will conduct.

Nixon in China is a modern masterpiece. Click here to read more.

A Very Modern Opera

2010-03-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

“One of the reasons we did that was to protect [Nixon in China],” says Wright. “We were not going to let go … All along the goal was to protect this important Canadian premiere.” - James W. Wright

Whatever it took, Vancouver Opera was always going to bring Nixon in China to Vancouver audiences. Click here to read more.

Nixon in China: The Look

2010-03-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

It's normal practice for Vancouver Opera to rent costumes for our productions.

But not for Nixon in China!

For the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China, Parvin Mirhady and her talented staff in the wardrobe department created the look you will see on stage.

Illustration by Parvin Mirhady

All the outfits were designed specifically for our production and are exact replicas of the original outfits worn during the 1972 visit. Parvin even scoured the local vintage stores to find the appropriate accessories.

Sally Dibblee who plays Pat Nixon will be outfitted in 3 dresses, as well as 3 different strands of pearl necklaces.

There will be 26 supernumeraries who will don on the heavy wool coats, hats, belts and pouches for the Red Army look. Luckily, this "outdoor" look will only be worn at the beginning of the first act. Our supers won't completely melt under the hot stage lights.

The 8 professional dancers in The Ballet of the Regiment scene will wearing shorts, short sleeved shirts and caps. All the better to leap and twirl around in.

Speaking of dancing, Kissinger will also have his own outfit in the ballet scene.

True to the time period of Mao's China, all the Chinese characters in the opera wear the same outfit. Whether you are Mao, Madame Mao or Chou En-lai or a regular citizen, the cut is exactly the same, although the colours may vary.

It's interesting to note that Mao wore only the dark gray outfit, while his more public right hand man Chou En-lai went between light gray and blue during Nixon's visit.

They say clothes make the (wo)man and in every form of entertainment, this couldn't be more true. Wardrobe is just as important in opera as the singing and the way the stage is set. Everything must come together to convey a sense of time and place, so that the audience can immerse themselves in the feeling of authenticity.

So props to the wardrobe department for working so hard on getting the look just right!

To check out more Nixon in China costumes and detailing, click play on the slideshow or click here for our Flickr.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Some Art With Your Sushi?

2010-03-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

Ever been to The Eatery in Kitsilano?

Not only is The Eatery a young, hip sushi restaurant, they also have pop-art inspired pictures on their walls.

Chairman Mao is in good company, hung on the walls alongside Jackie O., Judy Garland, Grace Jones and Debby Harry.

All the better to go with the fab selection of Japanese food and live music spun by an in-house dj.

Next time you're craving sushi and don't mind a rambunctious (aka loud) atmosphere, head to the Eatery for your fix of food and art. You may even want to request a table right under the watchful eye of the Chairman.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

The Cat's Out of the Bag

2010-03-06T23:13:00.001-08:00

Here's our man of the hour, Richard Nixon, walking around the streets of downtown Vancouver the other day.

Everywhere he goes, he's sure to draw attention! Even getting noticed from people up in their high-rise apartments.

Nixon waving to fans above

Nixon stopping for a photo-op

The itinerary of the day was to head to CBC Studios to shake hands with fans. However, a CBC reporter got wind of his appearance and was on the scene when Nixon arrived. Gracious and of course, lapping up the publicity, Nixon spoke with the reporter on why he was in Vancouver:

"El presidente" has spilled the beans! (and his handlers were shocked)

To offer a level playing field for fans that could not come out to meet him because of a little thing called "work", Nixon disclosed his secret reply to being told "News Has a Kind of Mystery"!

Yes, Nixon fans, if you tweet "I was opposed to China" to VO's Twitter or comment on VO's Facebook, you will be entered in a draw for 2 tickets to Nixon in China and $150 gift certificate to Chambar Restaurant.

Nixon has broken protocol just for you!

Tweet and comment away! The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, March 10.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Choreographer Wen Wei Wang revisits Chinese Red Army Ballet

2010-03-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

“We all stand on our own side and think we’re right, but when you start to have dialogue and start to understand two worlds, things start to happen.”

Check out The Straight for an interview with esteemed Nixon in China choreographer Wen Wei Wang.

Nixon in China in The Northern Light

2010-03-06T23:12:00.000-08:00

As Vancouver welcomed the world to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Nixon in China takes gold in the Cultural Olympiad. This is the Vancouver Opera’s season showpiece – an exciting, bold offering that promises to thrill both opera buffs, and those experiencing this grand art form for the first time. And now is the time.

For a great synopsis of what you'd see in Nixon in China, check out Northern Light here.

Nixon in China Opera Takes Grand Scale

2010-03-06T01:11:00.000-08:00

“This opera is a fantastic opportunity for us to get to know the giddy Nixon, the playful Nixon, the contemplative Nixon, the jokester, and the romantic. And it’s the same with Mao: at the time of the visit, Mao was kind of doddering.…But the opera gives us a chance to see Mao as a young man, doing a silly little jig at one point; he’s also romantically involved, even sexually involved—because he was a sensualist as well as a great thinker. They were complex—we’re all complex people.”

Find out what else is said about Nixon in China in this week's Straight.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Last Composer Standing

2010-03-05T23:45:00.000-08:00

Arts Journal, a website about the best in arts and culture, held a poll last November to determine which modern composer would stand the test of time.

Posing a question to their readers, Twitter and Facebook fans, Arts Journal asked: Which composer will still be played fifty years from now?

The number one choice?

1. John Adams

2. Arvo Pärt

3. Steve Reich

4. Philip Glass

5. Pierre Boulez

5= George Crumb

5= Henri Dutilleux

8. Osvaldo Golijov

9. Thomas Ades

10. Henry Mikolai Gorecki

You too, may well agree after watching Nixon in China.

Call 604.683.0222 to get your tickets today!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Parking Advisory for Nixon in China!

2010-03-05T21:10:00.000-08:00

Downtown Vancouver is an exciting and busy place! There are hockey games scheduled on all Nixon in China performance nights. Please allow plenty of time to get parked and into the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for the 7:30 pm start. Doors open at 6:15pm. Free preview talks in the theatre begin at 6:30pm.

Here's a tip: use the BC Hydro Lot, at the corner of Dunsmuir & Homer (enter from Homer). It's only $6 on VO performance nights

Opera Speaks @ VPL this Tuesday!

2010-03-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

“Chinese Vancouver, Then & Now: 1972 – 2010” will explore the history of Chinese in Vancouver. Discover how our city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past 38 years. A fascinating event including architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu, and filmmaker & writer Colleen Leung.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7-9 pm
Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
Admission is free.

Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library.
Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.

Nixon in China: Cast Interviews

2010-03-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

Video by Bombshelter Productions & Mike McKinlay

Everything about this production is exciting, new and original. - Michael Cavanagh

People can expect some very exciting music that's very rythmic. - Robert Orth

It has something for everyone. There are things that you've never seen or heard before. If you never been to an opera before, there are enough things to delight all of your senses that you will have a fantastic evening and you'll want to pursue your opera interests forever. - Michael Cavanagh

Don't miss out! Call 604.683.0222 to get your tickets!

Hail to the Chief

2010-03-03T18:08:00.000-08:00

More Nixon sightings!

Yesterday afternoon Richard Nixon was spotted at CBC Studios. Par for the course, as soon as Nixon arrived, he was eagerly whisked away for an interview with a CBC reporter.

But it was not too long before Nixon got back to doing what he loved best and that was to get out there with the people. Always the outgoing guy, he waved and flashed double-fisted victory signs to everyone walking on the street or driving in their cars. He continues to cause quite the stir!

Nixon shook the hands of several Vancouverites who sidled up to him and said those magic words, "News Has a Kind of Mystery."

In return, these Nixon fans were given buttons, posters, flash drives, t-shirts and more importantly, the reply secret code phrase that they can then tweet or email back to VO headquarters. Everyone is then entered into a grand prize draw for 2 tickets to Nixon in China plus $150 gift certificate to Chambar Restaurant.

Here's some pictures of Nixon on Day 2 of his jam-packed campaign trail:

The calm before the storm

Kudos to my fabulous hosts

All work and no play make Dick a dull boy

Getting some Vancouver love

All that schmoozing is making me thirsty

Safety first, people

'Wish You Were Here' postcards for the peeps back home

The best seat in the house. Come join me!

For more pictures of Nixon's shenanigan's, click here.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Nixon Sightings!

2010-03-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

Today marks the first day of a series of Nixon appearances on Vancouver streets!

During the lunch hour, Richard Nixon was found checking out one of Vancouver's most eye-catching monuments, the Vancouver Public Library. Causing quite the stir, many people did double-takes, while others stopped and greeted Nixon with "It's Tricky Dick!" One person even came up to Nixon to let him know that he was glad that the authorities still haven't caught up with him since Point Break.

Seeing Nixon on the streets means you can be entered to win a Nixon in China Grand Prize consisting of 2 tickets to the Nixon in China opera and dinner at Chambar Restaurant, as well as a bunch of swag.

When you see Nixon on the streets in the next few days, come up and give him the secret phrase, "News has a kind of mystery." Nixon will then respond with another secret phrase you then tweet back to VO's twitter or emailed to VO's Facebook. Then we'll enter you in the draw to win the perfect evening out!

We promise Nixon's 2 handlers will be gentle.

Here's some pictures of Nixon's first day in Vancouver:

Hanging with the everyday people

Playing tourist

Keeping up with current affairs

Singing along to karaoke TV

Nixon's bull

Being the good samaritan

Puppy love

See you at the opera!

For more pictures, click here.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

New Details About Nixon In China Community Engagement Series

2010-03-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Opera announces new details about the Nixon in China Community Engagement Series, a major program of events surrounding the Canadian premiere of John Adams’s modern masterpiece. VO has partnered with several groups to create this series that explores the historic 1972 meeting between Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong, the opera it inspired and the establishment of the Chinese community in Vancouver.

On Wednesday, March 17th, Margaret MacMillan, author of The Uses and Abuses of History and Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World will talk with CBC’s World at Six host Alison Smith at a public event presented with the Vancouver International Writers Festival.

Alison Smith is a well regarded senior correspondent and news anchor with CBC News who has covered a wide range of stories, including federal and provincial elections, the first Gulf War, the deaths of Pope John Paul II and Princess Diana and the Olympics in Atlanta, Athens and currently Vancouver. For four years before joining The World At Six, she was the Washington Correspondent for CBC Television. She spent four years travelling through the U.S. covering the election of President Barack Obama. (Alison Smith replaces Eleanor Wachtel, who is unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.)

Other highlights of the Nixon in China Community Engagement Series include a Literary Lunch with Margaret MacMillan and Alexandre Trudeau, as well as a special Opera Speaks @ VPL event, “Chinese Vancouver Then & Now: 1972 – 2010”, with architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu and filmmaker Colleen Leung.

At the invitation of the US Consul General in Vancouver and Vancouver Opera, former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte, whose early career included working at the National Security Council with Henry Kissinger in the early 1970s, will visit Vancouver to attend private functions and the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China.

Community Engagement Series Details

Inside the Music of John Adams
Tuesday, March 2nd 7:00pm
Vancouver Academy of Music
1270 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
Free Admission

An exploration of the music and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams. Presenters include writer and educator Thomas May, editor of The John Adams Reader, conductor John DeMain, who conducted the original 1987 production of Nixon in China, and Vancouver composer/conductor Owen Underhill.

Opera Speaks @ VPL - Chinese Vancouver Then & Now: 1972-2010
Tuesday, March 9th 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Vancouver Public Library – Central Branch
Alice MacKay Room
Free Admission – seating is limited

Explore the history of the Chinese in Vancouver, with emphasis on the Chinese communities' emergence and development since 1972, the year of Nixon's momentous trip to China. Discover how our city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past 38 years. Moderated by UBC historian Henry Yu. Speakers include eminent architect Bing Thom and filmmaker Colleen Leung.

Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library.
Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.

In China: Comparing the Nixon, Trudeau and Harper Visits
Friday, March 12th 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Choi Building Conference Room, 1855 West Mall, UBC
Free Admission

A panel discussion exploring the past and future of Canada-China Relations, which closes a two-day colloquium hosted by the Institute of Asian Research. For more information see www.iar.ubc.ca.

Presented in partnership with the Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia.

Literary Lunch with Margaret MacMillan and Alexandre Trudeau
Tuesday, March 16th 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Seasons at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
Tickets: $50 through the VO Box Office: 604-683-0222.

An intimate encounter with acclaimed Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan and journalist and filmmaker Alexandre Trudeau (son of Pierre Ellliott Trudeau) as they take us behind the headlines of history. Hosted by Hal Wake, Artistic Director of Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Presented in partnership with Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Margaret MacMillan in conversation with CBC’s Alison Smith
Wednesday, March 17th 7:30pm
Granville Island Stage
Tickets: $18 through VancouverTix: 604-629-8849. www.vancouvertix.com

Margaret MacMillan talks with CBC’s World at Six host Alison Smith about her most recent book The Uses and Abuses of History and her earlier chronicle Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World.

Presented in partnership with Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Nixon in China: The Set

2010-03-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

So what will China in 1972 look like?

Will the presidential jet, The Spirit of '76, take up the whole stage?

Are there going to be live animals when Pat Nixon makes a visit to the pig farm and zoo?

Rumour has it that people will climb onto tabletops in drunken revelry and furniture will be toppled...

How many dancers will dance in the Ballet of the Regiment scene?

Will there be a fight scene involving the President and the Chairman?

While we can't disclose all the surprises (you'll have to see for yourself!), we can show you the set models for Nixon in China.

Nixon in China Act 1 Scene 1

Nixon in China Act 1 Scene 2

Nixon in China Act 1 Scene 3

Nixon in China Act 2 Scene 1

Nixon in China Act 2 Scene 1

Nixon in China Act 2 Scene 1

Nixon in China Act 2 Scene 2

Nixon in China Act 2 Scene 2

Nixon in China Act 3

Tickets are going fast! Call 604.683.0222 to get yours today!

If you're between 18-29, you can purchase tickets for $25 with our Get O.U.T.! program. When you call, give our folks PROMO CODE 2257.

If you're coming for Twitter/Facebook Fan Night on Thursday March 18, give 'em PROMO CODE 2439 to get 20% off any seat in Sections A-E.

Twitter/Facebook Fan Night sponsored by:

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Who Wants In?

2010-03-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

Hail Chairman Mao. The people from every tribe praises Chairman Mao

Raise your hands if you'd like to come to the Nixon in China Fan Night on Thursday March 18?

If you have tickets for the March 18 performance already, email lchan@vancouveropera.ca to be put on the exclusive Twitter/Facebok Fan Night guestlist. You'll be invited to the special pre-show chat as well as given access to the VIP lounge during the intermissions. And yes, there will be nibblies and swag.

If you want in on the Twitter/Facebook Fan Night and don't have your tickets yet, call 604-683-0222 and give our good folks PROMO CODE 2439 to get 20% off any seats in sections A-E.

*This offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Sale ends noon Wednesday. Don't miss out! Call now!

Twitter/Facebook Fan Night sponsored by:

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Where's Nixon?

2010-02-28T21:33:00.001-08:00

Locate Nixon as he makes his appearance at various sites around Vancouver this week and win a Nixon in China grand prize pack!

How it works:

1. VO will tweet out a location and code word each day
2. Participants must go to the location, find Nixon and tell him the code word.
3. Nixon will give the participants a reply code word, which needs to get tweeted back to VO. You can also EMAIL us the code word on Facebook.
4. Participant names will be collected and entered into the grand prize draw.

Let the stalking begin.

CBC's Alison Smith to Interview Margaret MacMillan

2010-02-28T21:32:00.000-08:00

Highly regarded CBC correspondent Alison Smith, co-host of "The World at Six", will interview eminent Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan about her recent book The Uses and Abuses of History and her earlier best-seller Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World.

*Alison Smith replaces Eleanor Wachtel, who is unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

Wednesday, March 17
7:30-9 pm
Granville Island Stage
Tickets $18

Highly regarded CBC correspondent Alison Smith, co-host of "The World at Six", will interview eminent Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan about her recent book "The Uses and Abuses of History" and her earlier best-seller "Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World."

(Alison Smith replaces Eleanor Wachtel, who is unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.)
Wednesday, March 17
7:30-9 pm
Granville Island Stage
Tickets $18.

Buy tickets here.

Bloggers Take On The President & The Chairman

2010-02-26T21:32:00.000-08:00

Behind the Scenes with Super Keui-Ming

2010-02-26T21:31:00.000-08:00

Feb 20
Today is the first day the supers meet at the Holy Rosary Hall. I enter the humble and friendly rehearsal space, feeling nervous and excited, and am greeted by Sheila, our Stage Manager. She asks me to sign in and gives me a name tag.

As others arrive, we introduce ourselves to each other. Most of the supers already know each other.

Our director Michael Cavanagh gathers us and explains the whole story and the theme to us. He is a very funny man, always cracking jokes and dancing around. As well, the production assistants (Stephen, Beth, Amy and Theresa) are so helpful. I already like the group and the energy in the room.

We walk through 3 scenes and run the movements with piano and a singer. It is fun but we have to stay focused. It is easy to daydream because the music is so beautiful. Luckily, the senior supers like Brett, Jim and Bianca, seem confident in what they are doing.

After the rehearsal, we were asked to walk through the Olympic crowds to the costume shop to take some pictures for a surprise I won't spoil in this entry!

***
Feb 22
Today we rehearse with the chorus. I am amazed how beautiful they sound as a group. Quite angelic.

It is quite a large group today, so we are not yet as open with each other. I am sure we will all warm up to each other as time passed. I still like the way our director humours us. He makes this seems like playing, not working. We run the same scenes we did last rehearsal.

Today is also Jason's (one of the supers) birthday. We sing "Happy Birthday" to him and have brownies and cinnamon swirls at the break. Happy Birthday does sound better with a professional chorus.

***
Feb 24
Today is a gloomy and rainy day, but heading to reheasal cheers me up. The music, the love of performing and the good attitudes of our leaders (Michael, Stephen and others) let me and perhaps others forget the rest of the world hustling and bustling outside and truly be present in the rehearsal hall.

Today we run the banquet scenes again and again. It is a beautifully choreographed scene where move tables around and around like planets and race manically around until we drop dead on the floor. Pretty dramatic! It's all part of the magic.

Chinatown History Hunters

2010-02-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

We've reached into our magic hat and randomly pulled ourselves a winner for the Chinatown History Hunt.

*drum roll please!*

Congratulations Deborah Ong! You've won 2 tickets to Nixon in China, $150 gift certificate to Floata Seafood Restaurant and admission for 2 to Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens.

Here are the answers to the clues:

Clue #1: It’s the skinniest building in the world – and the place to go if you need a marriage license.

Sam Kee Building

The Sam Kee Company bought the land as a standard sized lot in 1903. In 1912, the city widened Pender Street and expropriated 24 feet of the lot.

The building was designed by architects Brown and Gillam in 1913. It is 4’11” wide at its ground-floor base and only 6’ wide at the second-story bay windows. There is a basement that extends under the sidewalk, which originally housed public baths, while the ground floor was used for office and shops, and the top story for living quarters.

The rehabilitation of the building was designed by Soren Rasmussen Architect and completed in 1986 for Jack Chow Insurance.

The Guinness Book of Records and Ripley’s Believe it or Not! have both declared it the thinnest commercial building in the world. Recently, though, this status has been challenged by the Skinny Building in Pittsburgh, which is 5’2” wide on all floors.

Clue #2: It’s the first full-size Chinese garden built outside of China and is named in honour of the first president of China.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden consists of a public park (free) and a garden(entrance by admission). It was built between 1985 and 1986, with the park designed by Joe Wai and Donald Vaughan, and the garden by Wang Zu-Xin, with the guidance of experts from the Landscape Architecture Company of Suzhou, China. The garden opened on April 24, 1986, in time for Expo 86.

The mandate of the garden is to “maintain and enhance the bridge of understanding between Chinese and western cultures, promote Chinese culture generally and be an integral part of the local community.

The garden in named in honour of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the father of modern China, who had a strong connection to Vancouver. Dr. Sun stayed in Vancouver on several occasions while traveling the world to raise awareness and funding for the Chinese nationalist movement. The large presence of Chinese nationalists in BC helped finance the Chinese nationalist revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty in 1911, after which Dr. Sun Yat Sen became the first president of China.

Clue #3: The 3 ½ storey neon rice bowl may be gone, you can still get some mean sticky rice with chicken here!

Foo’s Ho Ho Restaurant/Sun Ah Hotel

This building was constructed in 1911. The Ho Ho Restaurant opened in 1954, in the ground floor of the Sun Ah Hotel, where working-class Chinese men lodged.

The famous Ho Ho’s neon sign was a Vancouver landmark: a 3 ½ storey high bowl of rice, complete with chopsticks and rising steam. Sadly, the sign deteriorated over the years and repair costs were beyond the owner’s means and it was removed in 1997, a few years after the Ho Ho had closed.

In 1998, Foo’s, another nearby landmark restaurant relocated to the old Ho Ho’s location. The new restaurant was renamed Foo’s Ho Ho and continues to serve traditional Chinese village fare. Many groups hold monthly and annual meetings there, including the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia.

Clue #4: This "Assocation" is so "Benevolent" it needs two locations! (But you only have to find one for the History Hunt).

The Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver

The Chinese Benevolent Association was founded in 1895 as an organization to provide support and leadership within the growing Chinese Canadian community. Since then the CBA has worked to promote equality for Chinese Canadians, as well as reaching out to other community groups.

In 1913, the CBA distributed food to unemployed Chinese Canadians, and in 1924 lobbied for a review of Canada’s immigration laws. In 1947, it launched an appeal to grant Chinese Canadians the right to vote, and between 1947 and 1967 solicited amendments to Canadian immigration laws to facilitate the reunification of Chinese Canadian families.

Since then, the CBA has worked to provide low cost housing, and implemented fund raising campaigns to assist victims of natural disasters in Canada and China. The CBA is also the organizer of the Chinese New Year Parade.

In 2006, CBA was inducted into the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Business Hall of Fame-a first for an ethnic community association.

Clue #5: Visit this "Centre"’s museum & archives to get some "Culture"!

Chinese Cultural Centre

In 1972 at a Wong’s Benevolent Association banquet, representatives of the three levels of government pledged to support the proposal of a community centre in Chinatown. The Chinese Cultural Centre of Vancouver was founded the following year, and a dedicated complex of buildings, spanning a full city block, was completed in 1980. A branch office was opened in Richmond in 1991.

Some of our contestants were kind enough to let us put up their pictures, they had so much fun with our hunt.

Melissa

Nicole

They may have been a wee-bit camera shy, but these hunters were happy for us to put up their pics!

Mini Bree

LJ and Johnny the Bear

Thanks to everyone who had participated in our Chinatown History Hunt!

~ Ling Chan & Selina Rajani

Nixon Cast Invades SATO

2010-02-24T12:51:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday, CBC's Bill Richardson was joined by the fine singers of the Nixon in China cast on Saturday Afternoon at the Opera's The O Word.

Baritone Robert Orth, tenor Alan Woodrow, mezzo-soprano Rebecca Haas and soprano Sally Dibblee took the stage for a light-hearted afternoon of arias and musical word games, which were inspired by the Winter Olympics. The quartet was accompanied by VO's Associate Conductor and Chorus Director Les Dala on the piano.

Here are some pictures for those who were unable to make it. I don't know...something about the Olympic games?

CBC SATO host Bill Richardson

Clockwise from top left: Singers Sally Dibblee, Robert Orth, Rebecca Haas and Alan Woodrow

Who wants to play arias and word games?

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Adams Meet Schoenberg

2010-02-24T12:50:00.001-08:00

“I was sitting in my studio, studying the score to Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony, and as I was doing so I became aware that my seven-year-old son Sam was in the adjacent room watching cartoons (good cartoons, old ones from the ‘50s). The hyperactive, insistently aggressive and acrobatic scores for the cartoons mixed in my head with the Schoenberg music, itself hyperactive, acrobatic and not a little aggressive, and I realized suddenly how much these two traditions had in common.” - John Adams

This led to the creation of his Chamber Symphony in 1992.

On Wednesday, February 24th Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble will be performing Arnold Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony (1906) and the Canadian premiere of John Adams’s Son of Chamber Symphony – Adams’ sequel to his earlier work and a tribute to Schoenberg. Adams’s composition employs the same instruments as Schoenberg’s with the addition of synthesizer, percussion, trumpet, and trombone.

Within this work Adams pays homage to Stravinsky, demonstrates the influence of jazz by incorporating brilliant solo spots for each instrument and “adds one more element to the mix: cartoon music, summed up best by the meticulously intricate arrangements and antic tempi of Raymond Scott, whose brilliant miniatures show up regularly in cartoons.”

Son of Chamber Symphony demands instrumentalists who, in Adams’s words, “are asked to negotiate unreasonably difficult passages and alarmingly fast tempi”. For a taste listen here.

Turning Point Ensemble was formed by its musician members in 2002 to present rarely heard concert music for a large-sized chamber ensemble. Led by co-artistic directors Jeremy Berkman and Owen Underhill, the ensemble’s mandate is to increase the understanding and appreciation of music composed during the past hundred years, linking the music of earlier times to the music of today through innovative programming and outstanding performance.

If you want to learn more about John Adams, check out ‘Inside the Music of John Adams’ on Tuesday, March 2 at the Vancouver Academy of Music with experts Thomas May, editor of The John Adams Reader, John DeMain, conductor for Vancouver Opera’s Nixon in China and Owen Underhill, co-artistic director of Turning Point Ensemble.

~ Jennifer Lord, Special Projects Manager

Nixon in China: The Manga

2010-02-23T17:15:00.001-08:00

To whet your appetite on the upcoming Nixon in China, feast your peepers on the Nixon in China manga, illustrated by Gerry Cai and edited by Roy Husada.

To see this supersized, click here.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Someone To Watch Over Me

2010-02-23T17:14:00.001-08:00

Before the curtain even goes up on Nixon in China, audience members will get an eyeful. On the scrim at the front of the house will be hundreds and hundreds of Red Army faces staring right back at them.

This past weekend, a photoshoot took place at our wardrobe department. Nixon in China's Projection Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis snapped headshots of 14 of our costumed supernumeraries, who will become the faces on our custom scrim.

Their faces will then be multiplied electronically so that they cover the entire width and breadth of the scrim.

Projection Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis shooting super Brett Macdonald
Photo courtesy of Terry Harper

The effect is sure to have people talking!

Does it come in a wallpaper too?

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Lunch with Margaret and Sacha

2010-02-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

Be sure to book your seats for lunch with acclaimed Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan and journalist/filmmaker Alexandre Trudeau (son of Pierre Trudeau), as they talk about Nixon's trip to China and look behind the headlines of history.

This is a rare and unique opportunity! Only 100 seats will be sold.

Moderated by Hal Wake, Artistic Director of VIWF.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 12:30 - 2:30 pm
"Seasons" at Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver
Tickets: $50 available from the VO Ticket Centre at 604-683-0222.

Presented in partnership with Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival, and co-hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Inside the Music of John Adams

2010-02-19T17:12:00.000-08:00

Whether you’re a fan of John Adams or are interested in learning more about his music, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Presenters Thomas May, editor of The John Adams Reader; conductor John Demain, and Vancouver composer/conductor Owen Underhill will explore the music and career of Pullitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams.

March 2, 2010, 7-9 pm
Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut St.
(parking across the street at the Vancouver Museum/Planetarium )

Admission is free! Refreshments courtesy of Vancouver Opera Guild.

Behind the Scenes: Super Keui-Ming

2010-02-16T17:11:00.001-08:00

One of our Nixon in China supers, Kuei-Ming Lin, is so excited to be a part of the opera that she wanted to share her behind-the-scenes experience with our readers.

So without further ado, let's welcome Keui-Ming to the blogosphere!

Wow! This was my first time entering the Vancouver Opera costume shop. I have never seen so many clothes from different eras. As I stood enchanted by the room, I was greeted by a wonderful lady, Parvin, who showed me to the change room. She got the costumes that would (cross your fingers) hopefully fit. But they didn't.

I sort of knew it would be hard to find costumes for me because I am so short. And as I feared, the pants were really baggy and so were the shirts. Soon I found myself standing like a statue while two lovely assistants, Josephine and Zoe, pinned and marked. I felt really guilty for giving them so much trouble, but they comforted me by saying "You are perfect the way you are" and "After all this, you will look wonderful!" What sweet people! They were just the most patient and kind.

Finally, after finding shoes and a hat and pinning up all the parts that they were going to alter, I was free to go. I took off the costume, hung it on the rack, and the next person came in for his fitting.

Stay tuned for more from our correspondent Keui-Ming!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

A Keen Sense of Hearing

2010-02-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

Now that is some supersonic hearing!

VO's Ticket Centre Manager, Tracey Flattes, was able to spot John Adams' The People are the Heroes in, of all places, the Civilization IV computer game.

The 2005 strategy computer game begins in 4000 BC and has its players build empires, conquer other civilizations, forward their society through scientific and cultural progress, to finally landing a ship in a future star system in the year 2050 AD. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

As the game takes place over 6000 years, music included in the soundtrack include medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, minimalist, world and folk music. Some of the game's music are original scores, while others are variants of famous pieces. Featured composers include Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, Mozart and American minimalist composer John Adams!

Not only can you hear The People Are The Heroes Now as the background music in the Modern Age part of the game, you can also hear John Adams' Harmonielehre, Shaker Loops, The Chairman Dances, Two Fanfares and Violin Concerto.

civilization 4 soundtrack - people are heroes.mp3

Found at: http://www.filestube.com

Gamers and opera. Who would've thought that this is yet another coupling that goes together well!

Thanks Tracey for the find!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Now On Tour

2010-02-16T17:09:00.000-08:00

Our General Director James Wright has been making the rounds. Since last November, he's been booked solid with speaking engagements, enthusiastically spreading the word about our upcoming Nixon in China. Jim has already spoken to the Burnaby Deer Lake Rotary, Green Culture Club, Sunrise Rotary, Zonta International Book Club and Quadra Rotary Club.

Just last week, Jim presented Nixon in China to the Chinatown Lions Club at Floata Restaurant. I had the opportunity to accompany Jim as he spoke about the music and visuals, and gave a brief history of how John Adams' Nixon in China came to be.

Jim takes the podium

Chinatown Lions Club member Chuck Lew with Barbara Lowy

Chuck Lew, Beverly Nann and Jim

Speaking to the 28 members that night was great, but even better was being served (surprise!) a 10-course dinner before Jim took the podium.

A great way to get out into the community and educate people on this modern operatic masterpiece, Jim's speaking engagements also provide opportunities for questions and conversation.

Jim will wrap up his successful "whirlwind tour" in the next few weeks with visits to UBC and the University Womens Club.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Bringing Home the Magic Part II

2010-02-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

Our Director of Production, Terry Harper, is back from his travels! Ever the trooper, Terry endured winter snowstorms, flight delays and rescheduling to bring us back more snapshots of our Nixon in China set.

Aerial shot of a hanging backdrop and trim for legs

Rolling tower in front of a backdrop

Forbidden City & White House backdrop

Forbidden City & White House backdrop

Set designer Erhard Rom talking to Richard Blankenship

Aerial view of tower, backdrop and red steps used in the ballet scene

Airplane front wheels

Backdrop of the American and Chinese flags

This is better than getting souvenir t-shirts!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Orth Got Pinned

2010-02-12T12:12:00.001-08:00

When Stephen Llewellyn of Portland Opera, aka Operaman, read that we had Nixon in China buttons to give away, he got on the horn and enthusiastically requested 2 sets. One set for him, of course, and the other set to give to baritone Robert Orth, who was performing as Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte at Portland Opera.

And how serendipitous that Robert Orth would then be coming up to Vancouver to join us as President Nixon!

Robert was such a sport. Not only did he wear our trio of buttons but he also dug up his original 1968 "Nixon's the One" campaign button to show us!

Robert Orth looking sharp in VO's buttons

Photos courtesy of Stephen Llewellyn

Thanks Stephen and Robert for showing us some love!

Have you got your buttons yet? You can pick up your limited edition Nixon in China buttons at Book Warehouse, at our Nixon in China Community Engagement Events and at the VO office.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Getting Yours Before They're Gone

2010-02-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hear ye! Hear ye!

VO is pleased to announce that we have hit 50% of our single ticket goal for Nixon in China as of Wednesday!

Don't miss out on what will be the most talked about opera this season! Call our box office for tickets at 604-683-0222 to get yours!

A Hunting We Will Go

2010-02-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

Vancouver is positively crackling right now! A little something called the Olympics and Chinese New Year will take place this weekend. So to help accommodate all our hunters during this crazy time, the Chinatown History Hunt contest will be extended until noon Monday, February 15.

Also, we have decided to bend the rules a little for those camera-shy hunters. You can participate in the contest and instead of taking a picture of yourself in front of the landmark as stated in the previous rules, come up with a creative way to show us that you were actually there.

Wear a mask, put your back to the camera, bring along a garden gnome and put it in every shot - it's up to you. Just show us that you went to each location and aren't just submitting Googled images of the historic sites.

So now you can enjoy the Olympic festivities, Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown AND try for our super-fabulous Nixon in China prize package!

恭喜發財 or Gung Hay Fat Choy!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

The Land of Hakka Round Houses

2010-02-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

Something a bit different this week – a detour to a bit of Nixonian flotsam. My sister, who lives in China, sent me three pictures the other day that she took on a trip to an area a hundred or so miles from her home in Xiamen. She went to see the Roundhouses – also referred to as Hakka earth buildings - and took several pictures, among them three of an amusing sign placed on the hill above a village of roundhouses:

The second picture more clearly shows Nixon and Mao shaking hands during Nixon’s historic visit to China, both of them seeming to be very happy for the camera!

The close-up shows the Chinese and English text, which is self-explanatory:

I also made a trip to this region, my sister joining me for her second excursion. The Hakka earth houses are amazing structures, and now – mostly – protected by the government. According to my guidebook, Hakka earth buildings “guard people against danger, wind, earthquake, fire and damp” and “has rich Hakka cultural connotation.” It is warm in winter and cool in summer and the Hakkas live by clansman inside.” There are many different shapes, but the roundhouse seems prevalent.

Individual roundhouses accommodate up to a hundred families, housed in vertical units. The ground floor is the cooking area, the first floor is storage, and upper floors are for sleeping and defence.

The common area is used for community use including weddings, ceremonies, meetings, etc.

Many of the structures are still occupied, but I understand that a majority of residents are the young and the old, as the “in between” generation has in large part gone to the cities to work.

I do not pretend to be an expert on this or any other facet of China – by any means! – and my information may not be entirely correct. But when I saw those pictures from my sister of the roundhouses and Nixon – and the text talking about US intelligence believing these were missile sites – it brought back fond memories of my trip to the region and seemed quite appropriate as I am spending a lot of time these days thinking about Nixon in China!

~ James W. Wright, General Director

Bringing Home the Magic

2010-02-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

VO's Director of Production, Terry Harper, is an International Man of Mystery this weekend. Terry will be jet-setting to Philadelphia on Sunday to watch the set load-in of Tea, which Vancouver Opera will be producing in 2013. (we're letting the cat out of the bag on that one!)

From there, Terry, who had worked for years with magician David Copperfield on his shows before coming to VO, will fly to Richmond, Virginia. He'll then head over to the Blankenship Company where our Nixon in China set is being built. He will spend a couple of days there to confirm that construction is going smoothly, schedules are being met, answer any questions the crew might have and to "make sure I'm all jiggy with it."

The Nixon in China set will be packed into one 52 foot tractor trailer on March 1. It'll then make its way across the country and arrive in Vancouver on March 6.

Here's a sneak peek at what we're working on.

Nixon in China backdrop

One of the six 21 ft columns of "The Big 6" (Kissinger, Pat Nixon, Richard Nixon, Chairman Mao, Madame Mao, Chou En-lai)

Hand-painted dragon statue

Hand-painted wood statues

Nose of the plane

Plane engine with wooded slats

Very exciting! More pictures to come. Stay tuned!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Chinatown History Hunt: Clues Galore!

2010-02-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Time to put on your thinking caps! The clues to the Chinatown History Hunt are here!

Using the clues below, figure out the landmarks, go there, get all snap-happy with your camera and send your pictures to lchan@vancouveropera.ca.

You'll then be entered to win an awesome opera package including: 2 tickets to Nixon in China, $150 gift certificate to Floata Seafood Restaurant and admission for 2 to Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens. Doesn't that make you want to get up and go to Chinatown right now?

Here are the super-fantastic clues:

Clue #1: It’s the skinniest building in the world – and the place to go if you need a marriage license.

Clue #2: It’s the first full-size Chinese garden built outside of China and is named in honour of the first president of China.

Clue #3: The 3 ½ storey neon rice bowl may be gone, you can still get some mean sticky rice with chicken here!

Clue #4: This "Assocation" is so "Benevolent" it needs two locations! (But you only have to find one for the History Hunt).

Clue #5: Visit this "Centre"’s museum & archives to get some "Culture"!

Contest ends Friday, February 12!

So make a day of it. Double, triple, quadruple your chances of winning by bringing your pals out with you to participate in our History Hunt. Just make sure that you each submit your own set of photos.

Then everyone, go have a spot of dim sum!

Thanks to Selina Rajani, Communications Manager for coming up with the clues!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Nixon in China Cast Change

2010-02-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

This just in!
Mezzo soprano Melissa Malde will be replacing Zheng Cao in the role of Nancy T’ang in Nixon in China. Ms. Cao has had to withdraw due to health concerns.

Melissa is a professor of voice at Northern Colorado University and sang this role for Colorado Opera two seasons ago.

You can learn more about Melissa Malde here!

The Great Chinatown History Hunt

2010-02-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Photo credit: Tom Magliery

Even though Nixon in China is about, well, Nixon in China, it has strong relevance to Vancouver audiences. Our Chinese population has a long, interesting history and is an integral part of our community. You can learn more by attending the many Nixon in China Community Engagement events ... and by participating in THE GREAT CHINATOWN HISTORY HUNT!

How it works:

1. Follow VO on Twitter or Facebook.
2. Watch for clues about 5 historic locations in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
3. Go to these historic locations. Take a picture of you at these landmarks. Email all 5 pictures to lchan@vancouveropera.ca
4. Get entered into a draw for 2 tickets for the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden, a $150 gift certificate to Floata Seafood Restaurant and 2 tickets to Nixon in China!

Everyone gets a 20% discount on Nixon in China tickets just for participating! Discount applies to all March 16 and 18 performances in any section (excluding A+, E & F)

Contest begins RIGHT NOW and closes on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010.

Special thank you to Floata Restaurant and Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden for generously sponsoring the Chinatown History Hunt!

Canadian Premiere of John Adams’s Minimalist Masterpiece

2010-02-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Vancouverites will be the first in the country to experience John Adams’s gripping masterpiece in Vancouver Opera’s national premiere of Nixon in China, March 13th-20th, 2010. This minimalist tour-de-force by one of the world’s leading composers will be performed for the first time in Canada in a brand-new production commissioned as part of VO’s Golden Anniversary Season.

This milestone production is accompanied by a major series of free and ticketed community-engagement events through March, 2010 that explore the historic 1972 meeting between Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong, the opera it inspired and the establishment of the Chinese community in Vancouver. Journalist Alexandre Trudeau, historian Margaret MacMillan and architect Bing Thom are among the esteemed speakers. Details are available at www.vancouveropera.ca.

Opening night of Nixon in China is Saturday, March 13th, 2010, with subsequent performances Tuesday, March 16th, Thursday, March 18th and Saturday, March 20th. All performances take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Georgia and Hamilton Streets, Vancouver B.C. and begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets starting at $29 are available exclusively at the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre, online at www.vancouveropera.ca or by telephone (604-683-0222).

Singing the role of Richard Nixon will be leading baritone Robert Orth. Internationally-acclaimed baritone Chen-ye Yuan will sing Chou En-Lai, and heldentenor Alan Woodrow will sing Mao Tse-tung. Canadian sopranos Sally Dibblee and Tracy Dahl will sing Pat Nixon and Chiang Ch’ing, and bass-baritone Thomas Hammons will sing Henry Kissinger.

Zheng Cao, who was to make her role debut as Nancy T’ang, has withdrawn for health reasons. Replacing Ms. Cao will be mezzo-soprano Melissa Malde, who has previously sung the role for Colorado Opera.

Exhilarating and driving, challenging and accessible, John Adams’s richly textured and lyrical score pulses with rhythm. John DeMain, who conducted the world première production of Nixon in China at Houston Grand Opera in 1987, will conduct the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

Esteemed Toronto-based stage director Michael Cavanagh will direct the new production. It will be choreographed by the prominent Vancouver choreographer Wen Wei Wang, who, as a child, witnessed Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing. Video design is by Sean Nieuwenhuis.

This brand-new, innovative production is designed by the gifted American scenic designer Erhard Rom and will include a scale replica of The Spirit of ’76, from which the Nixons will emerge at the start of the opera. A film crew will follow the action on-stage, recording and replaying it throughout the performance.

The Story In Brief

In 1972, Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao Zedong shook hands and changed the course of human events. West and East looked into each others eyes and discovered a vast mystery of differences and desires. Henry Kissinger, Chou En-lai, Pat Nixon and Chiang Ch’ing all play pivotal roles in this fascinating drama of psychology and global politics.

Background

Nixon in China was written during the period 1985 to 1987 and is considered by many to be a modern masterpiece and one of the cornerstones of American minimalist music. Composed by John Adams to a libretto by poet and scholar Alice Goodman, the opera tells the story of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s momentous trip to China in 1972, when he met Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong and opened the political door to the Far East.

John Adams is part of a contemporary movement to create opera that explores current events. This movement includes Stewart Wallace and Anthony Davis, the composers of 1995’s Milk and 1986’s X, about Harvey Milk and Malcolm X, respectively.

Both the music and libretto are admired for their sophistication and accessibility, and Nixon in China is acclaimed as one of the few late-20th-century English-language operas that will likely attain a prominent place in the canon for decades to come.

Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee) are available from the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre, online at www.vancouveropera.ca, or by phone at 604-683-0222. Groups: For special pricing for groups of ten or more, call 604-683-0222.

Learn More
Music tracks, podcasts, a full synopsis and extensive background information are available at www.vancouveropera.ca.

The Music of John Adams

2010-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

I realize that some folks are concerned about the music they will hear when they attend a performance of Nixon in China. People worry that it will be “ugly;” that they won’t be able to discern a melodic line; that it will be “too minimalist.” I appreciate those concerns and understand them, because for a time in the last century it seemed that all “new music” eschewed tonality, melody, and whatever it is that makes us enjoy listening. That is no longer the case, and is certainly not the case in John Adams’s Nixon in China, composed in 1987.

Adams is often called a minimalist composer, but he is much more than that – and his musical style is more complex and interesting than what we consider to be minimalist. His minimalism is influenced by romanticism as well as the sounds of North American music. He is challenging and accessible, driving and soaring. But acclaimed music writer Alex Ross, in his book The Rest is Noise, says it much better:

[Adams’ music is] a stream of familiar sounds arranged in unfamiliar ways….It is present-tense American romanticism…plugging into minimalist processes, swiping sounds from jazz and rock, browsing the files of postwar innovation.

Thomas May, who has written an excellent book on Adams, The John Adams Reader (Amadeus Press), will be in Vancouver on March 2 for our Opera Speaks series. He and conductor John DeMain will have lots of enlightening things to say about Adams’s music. I want to quote a paragraph in his book, citing the liner notes from the Nonesuch release of the opera recording:

Adams believes in the rich possibilities of his chosen musical language. He likes to quote the assertion by the composer Fred Lerdahl that "the best music utilizes the full potential of our cognitive resources." (Lerdahl cites Indian raga, Japanese koto, jazz, and most Western art music as good examples, Balinese gamelan and rock as musics that fail in this respect.)

More, Adams, who really is one of those composers who love music, not just their own music, and whose knowledge is encyclopedic, believes in his harmonic style as a human necessity and is willing to risk taking the controversial position of maintaining that our response to tonal harmony is not so much cultural as genetic.

"Something tremendously powerful was lost when composers moved away from tonal harmony and regular pulses," he has said. "Among other things the audience was lost."

He invokes Walt Whitman: "He has nobility, he was a social radical, and he wrote plain English." And Dickens, one of his "great inspirations": "He had a huge audience, he had profound compassion, he spoke on social issues – and he wrote for money." So did Handel and Verdi, who brought their musical ideals into harmony with the assumption that it is pointless not to please your audience.

I think this quote will help dispel any concerns regarding John Adams’s desire to compose accessible music enjoyable to all of us!

I want to choose one example in the opera for a bit more exploration. In Act II’s stunning and pivotal opera/ballet The Red Detachment of Women, an extremely ideological piece devised by Jiang Qing (Madame Mao), the stunningly naive Nixons are horrified by what is depicted on the ballet stage and its blunt presentation of political good and evil. In some ways this is the centrepiece of the opera, and vividly depicts for us the confusion, stress, and emotional exhaustion - and perhaps lack of emotional preparation - of the American visitors. Adams’s music here is amazing. Again, Alex Ross:

The music mixes secondhand American pop with secondhand Strauss and Wagner, at one point mashing the Jochanaan theme from Salome into “Wotan’s Farewell” from Die Walkure. It’s a half-charming, half-repulsive simulacrum of totalitarian kitsch.

When I first heard this music I was mesmerized… and when I first heard the particular bars “mashing” Jochanaan and Wotan, I nearly fell off my chair.

~ James W. Wright, General Director

Wen Wei Wang: Coming Full Circle

2010-01-31T09:28:00.000-08:00

There are so many exciting aspects to VO’s upcoming Nixon in China. It’s the Canadian premiere, of course, which means Vancouverites will be the very first in the country to see it. The cast includes some of the finest singers in the world. And it’s by the brilliant team of John Adams and Alice Goodman.

Critics are calling this opera a modern masterpiece, which is high praise, considering it’s only been around since 1987. And considering operas hundreds of years old are still drawing huge audiences today, we’re very privileged to be seeing this work so early on.

So, with this production of Nixon in China being such a milestone for Canada, VO decided we needed a killer – and mostly Canadian - team to put it together. Thus, we have Michael Cavanagh directing, Harry Frehner designing the lighting, Parvin Mirhady doing the costumes, Sean Nieuwenhuis creating the multimedia… and Wen Wei Wang to choreograph.

Yes, it’s that Wen Wei Wang, the same internationally-known, award-winning creator of Cock Pit and Unbound. He has created a new and unique dance for this opera, which is made especially meaningful by his connection to the events depicted in Nixon in China.

In Act Two, the Nixons are treated to a sample of Cultural Revolution-style ballet: The Red Detachment of Women. (This actually happened during the Nixons’ 1972 visit to China.) Along with another ballet called The White Haired Girl, it was one of only eight plays, ballets and operas permitted in China between 1966 – 1976 – about the time Wen Wei Wang was growing up in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China.

The White Haired Girl was the very first ballet Wen Wei ever saw. At the time, he didn’t know it was part of the Communist propaganda machine – he just loved the dancing and loved to imitate it at home. Word spread that the six year old Wen Wei could dance so well, and he was sent to a special performing arts school for talented youth.

Around the same time, the Nixons came to China. Wen Wei was there in the crowds, a young boy waving a flag at the side of the road as the motorcade drove by.

Wen Wei continued to dance, and at 13 auditioned for the Army Dance School. An official policy of the Mao regime was that the army was to be active in all areas of Chinese society, including the cultural. Like most people in China at the time, Wen Wei grew up believing in the wisdom of Mao, and was thrilled and honoured to belong to the army in this way. After graduating from the school, Wen Wei became a principal dancer with the Lanzhou Army Dance Company.

In 1986, Wen Wei and his teacher were invited to Vancouver for a few months. He met new people, saw new things, learned a new approach to dance. Having experienced the world outside Communist China, Wen Wei reluctantly returned to China at the end of those five months, changed forever and no longer believing that Mao was a god.

Years of intense training and hard work passed, and by 1991, Wen Wei had passport, a student visa and an invitation to attend the Summer Dance Intensive at SFU. He returned to Vancouver, trained and travelled the country with other dancers. Eventually he joined Ballet B.C., began to create his own dances, won the Clifford E. Lee Award for Choreography…. and the rest is history.

And now, Wen Wei Wang has come full circle, returning to one of the events that shaped his life, to re-shape it in his own way.

You can read more about Wen Wei Wang (in his own words) over at the Dance Victoria website.

- Selina Rajani, Communications Manager

Class Begins On Monday

2010-01-29T11:27:00.000-08:00

Will we see you in class on Monday?

Virtual class, that is.

The Nixon in China online learning course begins on Monday, February 1.

If you're an e-News subscriber, you would've received an email invitation from Opera America - our North American service organization - to explore Nixon in China in a 4-part online learning course that explores all aspects of the opera.

Hear interviews with composer John Adams, the conductor and stage director, and several of the singers. Listen to music from the opera. Read about the librettist Alice Goodman. You can even post comments!

The course is free, and you can participate in any of the installments at any time. The course will continue to be available through March. Just follow the simple instructions in the email you receive from Opera America, and off you go into the fascinating world of Nixon in China.

If you're not an e-News subscriber, you can sign up for the course by emailing nixoncourse@vancouveropera.ca. You'll get an invitation the following week.

The World Premiere Construction

2010-01-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Nixon in China construction is well underway. The set is being built in Richmond, Virginia, by the Blankenship Company.

I will be taking a trip out to the shop to check up on the build just to make sure that they are keeping with strict Vancouver Opera construction standards. The Set Designer, Erhard Rom, will also be visiting the shop to check up on painting techniques.

Look at the size of this podium! There has to be matching big speeches!

Ergonomically appropriate tilt for the back. Wouldn’t mind one of these at home!

The construction is scheduled to be finished, and the set shipped to Vancouver, around the end of the first week of March.

Some fun trivia:

The Blankenship Company is run by Richard Blankenship, who established it in the early 80’s. His credit includes numerous major film and television productions; some of the recent ones include:

John Adams (2008 – HBO mini-series)
The New World (2005)
War of the Worlds (2005)
Mickey (2004)
Iron Jawed Angels (2004 – HBO original movie)
Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
Hannibal (2001)

He also builds sets for many opera companies in North America, including Virginia Opera and New York City Opera.

~ Terry Harper, Director of Production

Nixon at the Movies

2010-01-26T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sunday’s screening of Nixon was the first in our film series at the Vancity Theatre. As a biopic, Nixon is a penetrating portrait of the life of Richard Nixon and in particular, his years in public office. However, being by director Oliver Stone, it has its share of dramatic interpretation.

In his introduction, Dr. Paul Quirk raised the questions of how does art interpret history, history view its leaders, and, ultimately, where lies the truth? Much of Stone’s investigation involves truth, lies and the perception of both.

For just over three hours the captivated audience pondered some of these ideas. In the lively Q & A that followed the screening, further topics discussed included: How will Nixon be remembered? His foreign policy and visit to ‘Red China’ or the extended war in Vietnam? His position on domestic health care reform or perceived callousness to the Kent State University riots? Did he struggle internally with leadership or is that the interpretation of art and history?

~ Jennifer Lord, Special Projects Manager
~ photos by Selina Rajani

Button Up

2010-01-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

VO have pieces of flair to give away!

We're giving away a set of 3 Nixon in China buttons:

Nixon in China

Vote Mao

Nixon's the One

So how can I get my hands on these awesome buttons, you may be wondering? Simple.

We'll be handing them out on the street (follow @operaninja on Twitter for times and locations)

Buttons will also be available at most VO community engagement events

Or you can get your set by dropping by at the VO office Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

The city will soon be awashed with Vancouver Opera buttons. Get yours before they're gone.

Wear one at a time or wear them all at once. I guarantee they look good with everything. I'll leave it up to you if you want to decorate your suspenders with them.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Go To The Head Of The Class

2010-01-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

Want to know more about Nixon in China?

Well, you're in luck!

Opera America is offering FREE multimedia online learning courses. The courses are four weeks long and cover many aspects of Vancouver Opera's upcoming Nixon in China: the history, music analysis, the people involved, etc.

The course begins Feb 1.

For those of you who are already signed up for VO's E-news, you'll automatically receive an email invitation to join the course. And if you aren't signed up, go here!

Participants receive an email each week letting them know when the newest content is online, then they can go and look at it at their leisure.

Latecomers can join after the Feb 1 start date and still have access to anything they’ve missed.

Here's the course curriculum:

Week 1:
* Overview with introductions by composer John Adams and librettist Alice Goodman
* A detailed look at what happens in Nixon in China
* Overview of the six principal characters: Richard Nixon, Mao Tse-tung, Henry Kissinger, Pat Nixon, Chou En-lai and Chiang Ch'ing

Week 2:
* In-depth analysis of Act 1
* Introduction to Minimalism in music and Adam's approach to this style

Week 3:
* In-depth analysis of Act 2
* Discussion on how Adam uses orchestration

Week 4:
* In-depth analysis of Act 3
* A look back at how Nixon in China was received when it premiered in 1987

For more information, click here.

So sharpen those pencils and put on your thinking caps - school is about to begin.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Seal of Approval

2010-01-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, The Guardian UK asked David Bowie what was on his iPod playlist. Guess what was one of his song choices?

Soldiers of Heaven hold the Sky from Act 1, Scene 1 of the Nixon in China opera by John Adams.

Asked why this selection was on his playlist, Bowie replied "Adams's minimalism disguises the rich romanticism of his melodies. Ever ascending, rising through the clouds."

The Thin White Duke is liking the Nixon in China! Can we say that's SO cool?!

And it just so happens that Vancouver Opera will be performing Nixon in China in March!

For a preview of Soldiers of Heaven Hold the Sky, click here.

See what the buzz is all about! Call 604-683-0222 to get your tickets now.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Vancouver Opera Announces Nixon In China Engagement Series

2010-01-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

In preparation for the Canadian premiere – and new VO production – of John Adams’s modern masterpiece Nixon in China, Vancouver Opera presents a series of free and ticketed community engagement events.

Exploring the historic 1972 meeting between Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong, the opera it inspired, and the establishment of the Chinese community in Vancouver, this series will engage the mind and imagination through music, history, politics and film.

VO will collaborate with other arts, cultural, and social organizations to present this major series of events, running until March 2010. For up-to-the-minute details on these events, visit VO’s Nixon in China blog.

The Nixon in China Community Engagement Series:

Oliver Stone’s Nixon
Sunday, January 24th
12:30pm
Vancity Theatre
1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Free Admission
For more information, click here

The Vancity Theatre and VO present a special free screening of Oliver Stone's 1995 film Nixon and introductory remarks and a Q & A Session with Professor Paul J. Quirk, Phil Lind Chair in US Politics and Representation at UBC.

Seating is limited. Free tickets will be available at the door ($2 required VIFF membership available at the door).

This special event kicks off a series of co-presentations between Vancouver Opera and the Vancity Theatre. Look for more Vancouver Opera film events at the Vancity Theatre in the spring.

Turning Point Ensemble – John Adams’s “Son of Chamber Symphony”
Wednesday, February 24th
8:00pm
Vancouver Playhouse
Dunsmuir Street & Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Tickets from $20. Online at Ticketmaster or call 604-280-4444
For more information, click here.

The Canadian premiere of John Adams's newly completed chamber piece ("riveting and full of surprises" said the Los Angeles Times), plus Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony Op. 9 and the world premiere of a new chamber concerto by John Oliver.

This concert is co-presented with Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

Inside the Music of John Adams
Tuesday, March 2nd
7:00pm
Vancouver Academy of Music
1270 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
Free Admission

An exploration of the music and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams. Presenters include writer and educator Thomas May, editor of The John Adams Reader, and conductor John DeMain, who conducted the original 1987 production of Nixon in China.

Opera Speaks @ VPL - Chinese Vancouver Then & Now: 1972-2010
Tuesday, March 9th
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Vancouver Public Library – Central Branch
Alice MacKay Room
Free Admission – seating is limited

Explore the history of the Chinese in Vancouver, with emphasis on the Chinese communities' emergence and development since 1972, the year of Nixon's momentous trip to China. Discover how our city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past 38 years. Moderated by esteemed China scholar Dr. Jan Walls. Speakers include eminent architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu, and filmmaker Colleen Leung.

Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library. Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.

In China: Comparing the Nixon, Trudeau and Harper Visits
Friday, March 12th
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Choi Building Conference Room, 1855 West Mall, UBC
Free Admission

A panel discussion exploring the past and future of Canada-China Relations to close the two day colloquium hosted by the Institute of Asian Research. For more information, click here.

Presented in partnership with the Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia.

Literary Lunch with Margaret MacMillan and Alexandre Trudeau
Tuesday, March 16th
12:30pm – 2:30pm
Seasons at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
Tickets: $50 through the VO Box Office: 604-683-0222

An intimate encounter with acclaimed Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan and journalist and filmmaker Alexandre Trudeau (son of Pierre Ellliott Trudeau) as they take us behind the headlines of history. Hosted by Hal Wake, Artistic Director of Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Presented in partnership with Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Margaret MacMillan in conversation with Eleanor Wachtel
Wednesday, March 17th
7:30pm
Granville Island Stage
Tickets: $18. On sale Friday, January 22 online at VancouverTix or call 604-629-8849.

Margaret MacMillan talks with celebrated interviewer Eleanor Wachtel, host of CBC Radio’s “Writers and Company” about her most recent book The Uses and Abuses of History and her earlier chronicle Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World.

Presented in partnership with Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Tick Tock Mao

2010-01-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

This is tres cool. Our Communications Manager, Selina, is sporting a new accessory around the office. And it happens to go very well with the upcoming Nixon in China opera!

Bought in the back alleys of Shanghai with a lot of haggling by a "fixer" for a non-speaking foreigner, this nifty little "Chairman Mao" wind-up watch not only keeps time, BUT has the added feature of the Chairman's arm waving at you with every passing second!

What a great way to be reminded that we're a mere 7 weeks away from the Nixon in China opening (March 13, 16, 18, 20).

This show is going to be HOT! Vancouver Opera will be performing John Adams' masterpiece in March. Toronto's Canadian Opera Company will be performing Nixon in China February 2011, followed by San Francisco Opera Summer 2012.

Want to get your hands on tickets? Speak to the good people at our box office at 604-683-0222. Before time runs out.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

A Few Words from Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s CEO Yuan Pau Woo

2010-01-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Nixon in China opened in Houston in 1987, 15 years after the historic visit. By that time, the once-disgraced president had re-emerged as an elder statesman of sorts. His counterpart Chairman Mao had been dead for eleven years, but lived on in embalmed state at Tienanmen Square. The leaders of that day were Ronald Reagan and Deng Xiaoping, both of whom were responsible for economic experiments in their respective countries (supply side economics in the US and market socialism in China) that have had lasting impact.

What would audiences of the day have thought? China has always had a complex place in the American imagination, and the visit of Richard Nixon to “Red China” must count as one of the more curious inversions of US politics and international diplomacy. In this sense, John Adams’ rendition of the Nixon visit, while fanciful, is perhaps no more so than the audacity of the real life event and circumstances surrounding it, which are described so elegantly in Margaret MacMillan’s book Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World.

A dozen years earlier, Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Jacques Hébert travelled to China, well before they became household names in Canada, and wrote about their experience in the book Two Innocents in Red China. In the 2007 re-issue, Alexandre Trudeau writes in a lengthy and thoughtful introduction that his father was no innocent. Pierre Trudeau’s visit to China was as much an escape from the intellectual and societal confines of Duplessis Quebec as it was a quest to see an ancient civilization that faced its own confinement, for ideological reasons, from the rest of the world. Trudeau returned to China as Prime Minister of Canada in 1973, and played a role in ending the international diplomatic confinement of the middle kingdom.

Pierre Trudeau and Richard Nixon did not get along, but they had in common a fascination with China, and in particular with Chairman Mao Zedong. On the occasion of the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China, performed by the Vancouver Opera, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is pleased to partner with the Opera in hosting a literary luncheon on March 16 at which Margaret MacMillan and Alexandre Trudeau will have a conversation about Mao, Nixon, and Trudeau.

When Nixon in China is performed for the first time in Canada, it will be against the backdrop of, on the one hand, an ascendant and increasingly assertive China, and on the other, a United States that is enmeshed in war, hobbled by debt, and unfamiliar with the new global terrain of diffuse leadership. The most recent visit of an American President to Beijing, by Mr Obama in December 2009, was described in the Globe and Mail as “A G2 of Nations – On China’s Terms”.

The visit of our own Prime Minister to China, shortly after the Obama trip, should also be seen in this new context. It is not just that China is an increasingly important global power and that the US is in the economic doldrums. It is that Canada has become less important both to the United States and to China – two countries for which the term “special relationship” has often been used (and misused).

Prior to his China trip, Mr Harper made a statement in Singapore about how Canada’s prosperity in the past depended on trans-Atlantic ties, but that in the future, our country’s prosperity will increasingly depend on links across the Pacific. Previous Canadian Prime Ministers – including Trudeau, Clark, Mulroney, Chretien, and Martin -- made similar comments, but they had the luxury of describing the importance of Asia in hypothetical or futuristic terms and doing not much about it. Mr Harper is in many ways the most unlikely Canadian Prime Minister in modern times to have made such a statement and for that reason alone, his comments are significant. But what is more noteworthy is that his words were uttered at a time when the importance of Asia for the world economy is not just an idle projection or hypothesis. Whereas Mr Trudeau, for example, could propose greater emphasis on Asian countries as a third “option” for Canadian foreign policy, the importance of Asia for Canada today is not merely an option, but an imperative.

Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

You're Invited to VO's Nixon Screening

2010-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

Wanna come see a movie on us?

In anticipation of our Nixon in China opening on March 13, Vancouver Opera is hosting a series of Nixon in China related events.

You're invited to a screening of Oliver Stone's 1995 film, Nixon, at Vancity Theatre this Sunday, January 24.

The movie stars Anthony Hopkins as Nixon, Joan Allan as Pat Nixon, along with Hollywood heavy hitters such as James Woods, Paul Sorvino, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins, Kevin Costner and Sam Waterston.

Nixon traces the political and personal life of the former US President.

Here are the deets:

12:30pm - Doors open. Pre-screening reception provided by Vancouver Opera Guild.

1:00pm - Introduction of movie by political scientist Dr. Paul Quirk, Phil Lind Chair in U.S. Politics at UBC

4:15pm - Q & A session with Dr. Quirk and Vancouver Opera's Director of Marketing Doug Tuck

Admission is free and tickets are available at the door, but space is limited. Come early to avoid disappointment!

Please note: VIFC Membership ($2) required to attend the screening, which can be purchased at the door. For more information, click here.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Reading Nixon in China

2010-01-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

The libretto for Nixon in China, by Alice Goodman, is a work of art in itself. It is literate and poetic, and adds so very much to the total work – more so, I think, than many other “traditional” opera libretti.

American poet Alice Goodman was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and educated at Harvard University and Cambridge, where she studied English and American literature. In addition to Nixon in China, she wrote the libretto for Adams’s The Death of Klinghoffer . She was raised as a Reform Jew, and is now an ordained Anglican priest. She married the noted British poet Geoffrey Hill in 1987 and in 2006 took up the post of chaplain at Trinity College, Cambridge.

The liner notes for the recently-released CD of the opera state that “…Goodman spent painstaking hours collecting translations of Mao’s poems, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, photographs and literary works. Out of this came an epic libretto imbued with eloquence of thought and feeling, giving voice to each character in a highly individualistic way. Through her beautifully crafted couplets, Goodman has brought a depth of meaning to this historic event, allowing the audience to experience history in a new and more revealing way.”

The website “Everything2” wrote eloquently about Goodman’s libretto:

“The libretto alone speaks a lot of what the opera is about. It is one of those few excellent opera librettos that can be read and studied as a piece of poetry whose clarity and beauty transcend the symbolic language upon which it is based. It is the lyricism of the text that allows the composer to create the lyric and expressive music to pair with it. That the libretto is written in verse contributes to the heroic sound of the work, as well as the sense of careful thought. Too, it refers to the Chinese poetic form, which Mao at first used then later banned. The characters, whether they are making public speeches or talking to themselves, demonstrate a great deal of control over their words, are articulate, earnest, and descriptive; the use of metaphor is generous throughout the text, though allotted more to the Chinese than to the Americans. These are thoughtful, intelligent people, and to a degree, their political contest is made manifest in their dialogue, in which it seems as though they are all trying to outdo one another through wit.”

In the first aria of the opera, Nixon’s “News Has a Kind of Mystery,” the President is well-aware of the global political implications of the trip, and how it is playing with the home audience. The New York Times said “…what dominates the Nixonian psyche in Alice Goodman’s libretto is a consciousness – a sort of split self-consciousness – of history in the making.”

News has a kind of mystery;
When I shook hands with Chou En-lai
On this bare field outside Peking
Just now, the whole world was listening.

And though we spoke quietly
The eyes and ears of history
Caught every gesture
And every word, transforming us
As we, transfixed
Made history.

The work underscores not just the personal and the private in these bigger-than-life figures — Richard and Pat Nixon, Chou En-lai, Chairman Mao and his wife — but also the “vein of sadness that runs through Alice Goodman's poetic libretto, the sense that life is a dream and that most big events are beyond our control,” according to a writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

In her Act II aria “This is Prophetic!” Pat Nixon sings

This is prophetic! I foresee
A time will come when luxury
Dissolves into the atmosphere
Like a perfume, and everywhere
The simple virtues root and branch
And leaf and flower. And on that bench
There we’ll relax and taste the fruit
Of all our actions. Why regret
Life which is so much like a dream?

Finally, a thought about Act III: on the final evening of the trip, the major characters ruminate on the week’s events. A sense of exhaustion and doubt is pervasive. It has become clear that, despite all the public displays, the relationship between China and the United States remains uncertain and irresolute. The six look back over their lives in an interlocking series of reflections and recreations. Finally Chou En-lai remains alone, wondering if Nixon’s epic trip was truly worthwhile. He then looks to the future and resolves to carry on.

I am old and cannot sleep forever like the young
Nor hope that death will be a novelty
But endless wakefulness when I put down my work
And go to bed

How much of what we did was good?
Everything seems to move beyond our remedy
Come, heal this wound.
At this hour nothing can be done.

Just before dawn the birds begin, the warblers who prefer the dark,
The cage-birds answering.

To work!
Outside this room the chill of grace
Lies heavy on the morning grass.

~ James W. Wright, General Director

Richard Nixon Goes to Beijing

2010-01-05T14:49:00.001-08:00

Why should we care enough about a decades-old political event to invest the resources necessary to create this new production of Nixon in China? Don’t political tempests of the day fade through the lens of time, not to mention musical styles? Musically, I believe the work is important and enduring. As for subject, I turn to celebrated Canadian historian and author Margaret MacMillan, from her book Nixon in China:

“Of course it matters...Asia will be at the centre of the world again. Yet there will be no peace for Asia or for the world unless those two great Pacific powers, the one supreme today and the other perhaps tomorrow, find ways to work with each other. To understand their relationship we need to go back to 1972, to the moment when it started anew.”

MacMillan will be in Vancouver for the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China in March, and will appear at two events: a March 16 literary luncheon and on March 17 in the evening on Granville Island – more details available on our website.

Right now I’m reading her newest book, The Uses and Abuses of History (Penguin Canada, 2008) and find I am marking it up as I find nugget after nugget of wisdom pertaining to my work on our Nixon production. She states in her introduction that North Americans find it hard to recognize that history is not a dead subject, and tells us “[I]t is wiser to think of history, not as a pile of dead leaves or a collection of dusty artifacts, but as a pool, sometimes benign, often sulphurous, which lies under the present, silently shaping our institutions, our ways of thought, our likes and dislikes.”

In her early chapters “The History Craze” and “History for Comfort,” I found a couple of observations quite germane to our production. MacMillan speaks to the role history plays in how we think of ourselves, and that “[E]ven when we think we are striking out in new directions, our models often come from the past. The Chinese Communists scorned China’s traditional society, but their top leaders chose to live right at the heart of Beijing where the Imperial Court had once been. Mao Zedong himself withdrew into mysterious seclusion, much as the emperors had done over the centuries.”

In her discussion regarding the use of history for comfort, MacMillan notes that “[P]olitical leaders have always known the value of comparing themselves to great figures of the past[;]” she goes on to write, “Mao Zedong liked to point to the parallels between himself and the Qin Emperor who created China in 221 B.C.”

I’d like to mention one more idea MacMillan pursues in the chapter “History for Comfort” that relates closely to Nixon in China. She writes:

“If history is the judge to which we appeal, then it can also find against us. It can highlight our mistakes by reminding us of those who, at other times, faced similar problems but who made different, perhaps better decisions. President Bush refused to deal with Iran, even though it has huge influence in the Middle East and, in particular, in Iraq. His critics remembered when another American president faced a situation where the United States was bogged down in an unwinnable war and was losing much of its authority in the world. President Richard Nixon decided that he had to get the United States out of Vietnam and rebuild American prestige, and that the key to doing both lay in Beijing. Even though the United States and the People’s Republic were bitter enemies that had had virtually no contact with each other for decades, he boldly embarked on an initiative to bring about a mutual recognition and, so he hoped, mutual help. When I was lecturing in the United States about Nixon in China, a question I was asked repeatedly was, if Nixon were president today, would he be going to Teheran for help in getting the United States out of Iraq?”

Thought-provoking questions. Challenging ideas. I recommend reading Margaret MacMillan’s book The Uses and Abuses of History. I look forward to hearing her speak about these and related issues when she is in Vancouver in March for Nixon in China, produced by Vancouver Opera: demonstrating the relevance of opera to our 21st century lives.

~ James W. Wright, General Director

Nixon in China: Act by Act

2010-01-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

Nixon in China is one of the major operas of the 20th century and, along with Einstein on the Beach, is considered one of the cornerstones of American minimalist music.Even after the end of the Cold War that served as the opera’s backdrop, both the music and the libretto stand out for their sophistication and accessibility.

Check out the great synopsis of Nixon in China opera from the Opera Music Broadcast website.

Another Fab "Nixon in China" Community Event

2009-12-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

Turning Point Ensemble

John Adams - Son of Chamber Symphony
Arnold Schoenberg – Chamber Symphony Opus 9
John Oliver – Chamber Concerto

February 24, 2010 at 8pm
Vancouver Playhouse (Hamilton & Dunsmuir)
Single tickets: $20 - $35
www.ticketmaster.ca or 604-280-4444

Perfect Holiday Gift - $5 off til Dec. 20. Promo code – Adams when buying tickets

A Few Words from James Wright on Nixon in China

2009-12-17T10:55:00.001-08:00

I am very excited – and proud – that Vancouver Opera is presenting the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China. This captivating late-20th century work has been performed in some of the great opera capitals of the world – and is now receiving a brand new production for its long-awaited debut in Canada.

Premiered in 1987 at Houston Grand Opera, the work has seen subsequent productions in cities across the United States including Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis and Denver. European audiences have flocked to performances in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. It’s time Vancouverites get in on the excitement!

Canada is a small country when it comes to its number of opera companies. Opera.ca, “the voice of opera in Canada,” lists a membership of 19 companies, of which I would consider 11 to be “traditional” opera companies. The size and geographic and financial diversity of our Canadian opera field makes it difficult to assemble the critical mass necessary to mount big, new productions, especially of new and contemporary work. It is difficult to find partners of similar size and aesthetic to work together on these ambitious projects. Calgary Opera has been a leader over the past decade in developing new work and showcasing contemporary opera, and Pacific Opera Victoria has a commendable history of introducing lesser-known works to its audience. Vancouver Opera has commissioned three previous operas (The Architect, Naomi’s Road and Jack Pine) and will present a world premiere in October (Lillian Alling). But it remains difficult to partner regularly with these or other companies. On the other side of the border, American opera companies don’t usually look north for co-commissioners or co-presenters, as they have plenty of choices at home (there are more than one hundred opera companies in the US).

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) will present Nixon in China in a future season but will be using a fine production developed earlier for a group of American opera companies. While the COC and Vancouver Opera wish to work more closely on joint projects and have been discussing a couple of ideas, our companies developed our individual Nixon in China plans at a time when there was less conversation – and seemingly less in common - between us.

There is another new Nixon in China being presented in Long Beach California in March – just a week after VO’s performances. Long Beach Opera is an exciting company performing unusual repertoire in unusual venues; I’m sure their Nixon will be quite stylized and very interesting. I understand as well that a couple of major American opera companies are considering productions of the work over the next couple of years.

All this activity points up clearly the vitality of this important post-World War II opera and the interest the work generates around the world. I am so glad that Vancouver Opera, with support from the Cultural Olympiad 2010, is presenting a brand new take on the opera and introducing it to Canadian audiences during the 2010 Paralympic Games.

~ James W. Wright, General Director

A Few Words from Senator Jack Austin

2009-12-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

I am very pleased to turn today’s Nixon in China blog space over to Senator Jack Austin, a great friend of Vancouver Opera and a valued advisor to our Nixon in China project.

Jack Austin has seen the changes in China year after year since 1971. As a Canadian Senator, he chaired the Canada China Legislative Association. From 1993 to 2000 he was President of the Canada China Business Council. Senator Austin has met and worked with every Premier of China from Zhou En-lai in 1971 to Wen Jiabao today.

Can anyone imagine today what China was like forty years ago when Canada and China exchanged diplomatic relations on October 13th, 1970, or when President Richard Nixon made his historic decision and traveled to China to meet Chairman Mao in 1972, or in the year the United States and China formally exchanged diplomatic relations, 1979, just thirty years ago?

Well, I can.

I had the good fortune in 1970, as Canadian Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, to be a member of the Interdepartmental Committee on External Relations in Ottawa, which had the responsibility of advising on the terms of the recognition of China. I had no role in the negotiations but a front row seat on what was happening in the talks and of course on the background briefings on conditions in China at that time.

As a result of some very innovative negotiation an Agreement was reached which included provision for a first official level visit to China in June 1971 led by Canada's Minister of Industry, the Hon. Jean-Luc Pepin and supported by six Deputy Ministers of which I was one.

China in 1971 is unimaginable in today's terms. China had suffered greatly as a result of the Japanese invasion beginning in 1931 and ending in 1945. Postwar reconstruction had hardly begun when a civil war broke out ending in the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. China then experienced series of economic and social events under the governance of the Communist Party which culminated in the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976 led by the Gang of Four and carried out by the Red Guards. China in its own terms had "closed its door to the world" and sought little foreign presence in China.

You can then imagine how important an event was the exchange of recognition in 1970. China sought out Canada for its first step in rejoining the international community. Canada under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau understood the importance of this step and wanted to foster that engagement. Again in Chinese terms, China was opening its door to the world, not having it broken down by the colonial powers as in it's previous history.

In 1970 China was a very poor country with one of the lowest personal incomes of its citizens in the world. It had no presence in the world organizations and very little international trade. Its technical advancement was behind that of most nations. What I found when we arrived in Beijing in 1971 was a city of few automobiles, millions of bicycles, and millions of people dressed in almost the same type of clothing. The buildings were not heated and there was no air-conditioning in the summer. By today's standards people were very uncomfortable whether at work or at home.

How is it that forty years later China is being compared to the United States as a global power? The world has never seen an economic, social, and political rise so rapid and so successful. China today is a key participant in global organizations, is one of the world's largest and most competitive global traders and is one of the stabilizing players in resisting the current global economic downturn. Partly it is China's own doing in harnessing the creative energy of 1.3 billion of its own people to sound economic and social policies. Partly it is the welcome the international community has given to China in rejoining the world system by billions of direct foreign investment, transfer of technology and the opening of global markets, not the least of which has been the United States domestic market for Chinese manufactures.

Critical to this opening and economic growth was the remarkable decision by President Nixon to reverse years of American foreign policy towards China, which had been negative and hard line, and seek a breakthrough for an era of engagement and interaction. Aided by the diplomatic work of National Security Director Henry Kissinger the visit to China by President Nixon in 1972 was an international bombshell and just as shocking to the American political community and public. Today this decision is recognized in the United States as brilliant and farsighted. No more important welcome and acceptance to the international community for China could have been delivered and no better way could have been fashioned than by the President of the United States personally going to China and treating Chairman Mao, in the eyes of the world, as a political equal. The symbolism was perfect for China and for President Nixon as well.

Thus it is fitting for The Vancouver Opera to recognize the opening of China to the world by presenting the American Opera Nixon in China. Canada led the way. The United States made the difference, and the world is a far better place to have China as a prospering and positive member of the international community. Vancouver is the "Gateway to the Pacific" for North America and our links to China are strong. Nixon in China is an expression of our recognition of the importance of history and of our aspirations for a prosperous and peaceful future.

What A Bunch of Nixonians!

2009-11-18T16:48:00.000-08:00

We have assembled a veteran cast of seasoned “Nixonians” for Vancouver’s production of Nixon in China. Our Nixon, Chou En-Lai, Madame Mao and Henry Kissinger have all performed the role several times and bring a seasoned sense of their characters and of the work as a whole to our new production. Canadian soprano Sally Dibblee will be performing Pat Nixon for the first time and Canadian Alan Woodrow is performing his second Mao.

Here’s the rundown:

Richard Nixon - Robert Orth
Robert is a leading baritone with major opera companies including New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, D.C., Houston, Seattle, and Los Angeles. He was named “Artist of the Year” by both New York City Opera and Seattle Opera. New York City Opera also gave him the Christopher Keene Award for new and unusual repertoire. He is, in my opinion, the world’s leading interpreter of Richard Nixon.

Chou En-Lai – Chen Ye Yuan
Baritone Chen-Ye Yuan’s clear, supple voice and his ability to portray vastly different characters have earned him international acclaim. He was a winner of the 1998 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and won the gold medal in the 1994 International Tchaikovsky Competition. During his recent recital tour in Asia, the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing honoured him with the title Visiting Professor.

Madame Mao - Tracy Dahl
Canadian coloratura soprano Tracy Dahl has established herself as an important artist on the international concert and opera stages. Her flair as an actress, as well as her outstanding vocal abilities, have received high praise. Described as “a bright bird of her species” by the Vancouver Sun, “her extreme high notes,” according to the Boston Globe, “are both easy and spectacular.” Tracy recently sang in VO’s Ariadne auf Naxos and Der Rosenkavalier.

Mao Tse-tung - Alan Woodrow
One of the most sought-after heldentenors in the world today, Canadian Alan Woodrow has become a noted exponent of the roles of Wagner in the opera houses of Madrid, Seattle, Barcelona, Liege, Manaus and Toulouse; and Richard Strauss in Naples, Munich, Berlin, and London. Further appearances include Aeghist (Elektra) for the Washington National Opera and the Canadian Opera Company.

Pat Nixon - Sally Dibblee
Soprano Sally Dibblee continues to enjoy success on stages and concert halls throughout North America. Her recent engagements have included Violetta in La traviata in New Brunswick, Nedda in I pagliacci for Vancouver Opera, her role début as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly for Pacific Opera Victoria, Donna Elvira in Calgary, and Mimi in La bohème with the Toronto Symphony.

Henry Kissinger - Thomas Hammons
Basso buffo Thomas Hammons joined The Metropolitan Opera in 1996 in Tosca and has appeared there annually in Le nozze di Figaro, Billy Budd, Die Meistersinger, La bohème, and Werther. His acclaimed portrayal of Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China originated with Houston Grand Opera in 1987 and he has since taken the role to Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Los Angeles.

Nancy T’ang - Zheng Cao
Zheng Cao is a regular with leading companies in North America and abroad. A personal favourite of Seiji Ozawa, she has appeared with him in a concert presentation of La Damnation de Faust at the Saito Kinen Festival, as a soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony for the Winter Olympic Games in Japan, and as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly for her début with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Recent engagements include appearances with Houston Grand Opera as Varvara in Katya Kabanova.

News! News! News!

Naxos has just released a new 3-CD recording of Nixon in China! It features many of the singers from our production: Robert Orth, Tracy Dahl, Thomas Hammons, and Chen-Ye Yuan. The set was recorded live in Denver, Colorado in June 2008, and is conducted by Marin Alsop with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. It’s a terrific recording and takes its place beside the 1987 recording (Thomas Hammons as Kissinger is on both recordings!). Either recording is available from your favourite store or online.

I hope you’ll agree we’ve assembled a stellar cast and artistic team to bring to Vancouver and British Columbia an exceptional new Nixon in China.

~ James W. Wright, General Director