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Toronto, Ontario – A defining moment in modern-day history takes centre stage
this winter with the Canadian Opera Company premiere of John
Adams’ Nixon in China. Richard Nixon’s historic
five-day trip to China in 1972 was a media phenomenon viewed
simultaneously by millions at home on their television sets.
Adams’ unique lyrical
score for Nixon in China intertwines occasions of
grand, public spectacle with moments of quiet, private
reflection to transform a political event into a story with
universal appeal and significance. American James
Robinson returns to the COC to direct this highly-lauded and
widely-seen production with award-winning Spanish conductor
Pablo Heras-Casado making his Canadian debut leading the COC
Orchestra and Chorus. Sung
in English with English SURTITLES™, Nixon in China
runs for eight performances on Feb. 5, 9, 11, 13, 19, 22,
24 and 26, 2011.
Nixon in China had its world premiere at Houston Grand
Opera in 1987, followed quickly by performances at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts and Netherlands Opera. One
of the major operas of the 20th century, Nixon in China
has spawned numerous productions that have been received all
over the world, and, along with Philip Glass’s Einstein on
the Beach, is considered one of the cornerstones of American
Minimalist music.
The COC premiere of Nixon in China brings together
several cast members who have appeared in this production since
its first staging at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in 2004. Hailed by critics in his
“sensational portrayal of Richard Nixon” (Houston Chronicle)
is leading American baritone Robert Orth, last seen with
the COC in 1990’s The Barber of Seville, and
American soprano Maria Kanyova revisits her
critically-acclaimed role as Pat Nixon in her COC debut.
New to this production,
and the COC, is British tenor Adrian Thompson as Chairman
Mao, who previously sang this role with English National Opera.
Baritone Chen-Ye Yuan
appears with the COC for the first time, revisiting the role of
Premier Chou En-lai. American
bass-baritone Thomas Hammons makes his COC debut
portraying Nixon’s diplomatic advisor Henry Kissinger, a role he
created for the opera’s world premiere, and subsequently
performed in Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Los Angeles.
Making her COC and role
debut as Madame Mao is American soprano Marisol Montalvo,
whose stage and vocal presence has made her a regular performer
with many of the world’s finest opera houses.
Ensemble Studio graduate mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal, who
can also be heard in this winter’s The Magic Flute, is
Nancy T’sang, First Secretary to Mao. Ensemble Studio member
mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb is Second Secretary to Mao and
mezzo-soprano Megan Latham, Marcellina in the COC’s 2007
The Marriage of Figaro, is Third Secretary to Mao.
Making his Canadian debut is young Spanish conductor Pablo
Heras-Casado. An
exciting newcomer on the international conductors’ scene,
Heras-Casado is admired for the versatility of his repertoire
(from early music through to cutting-edge contemporary scores)
and was unanimously voted winner of the 2007 Lucerne Festival
Conductors’ Competition by a jury headed by Pierre Boulez and
Peter Eötvös. James Robinson, who most recently provided a searing version of
Turandot for the COC, directs this ground-breaking
co-production by Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Minnesota Opera,
Portland Opera, Chicago Opera Theater and Houston Grand Opera.
Collaborating with set
designer Allen Moyer, costume designer James Schuette,
choreographer Seán Curran, lighting designer Paul
Palazzo, sound designer Brian Mohr and video designer
Wendall K. Harrington, Robinson’s interpretation of
Nixon in China is a vision of opera never before seen
on the COC mainstage. News
media footage and historic photos literally become the set as
televisions continually loop news footage of the actual events,
while those same events are simultaneously re-enacted on the
stage. Moyer last worked
with the COC on The Flying Dutchman in 2010 and Norma
in 2006. Schuette,
Curran, Palazzo, Mohr and Harrington make their COC debuts with
this production.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for
Nixon in China
are available online at
coc.ca , by calling 416-363-8231, or in
person at the
Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto).
Ticket prices for
Nixon in China range from $62 to $281
plus applicable taxes.
NEW THIS SEASON: Standing Room
Standing Room tickets for only $12, go on sale at 11 a.m. on the
morning of each performance at the Four Seasons Centre Box
Office. Limit of two tickets per person. Subject to
availability.
Young People
Special young people’s tickets are priced from $31 to $95 plus
applicable taxes. These ticket prices apply to those who are 15
years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an
adult.
Opera for a New Age
Patrons between the ages of 16 and 29 may purchase
$22 Opera for
a New Age tickets as of Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 10 a.m.,
online at coc.ca or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box
Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Opera for a New Age is
presented by TD Bank Financial Group. Student group tickets are
also $22 per student and may be purchased by calling
416-306-2356.
Rush Seats
Rush seats, starting at $22 and subject to availability, go on
sale at 11 a.m. on the morning of each performance at the Four
Seasons Centre Box Office.
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