Opera Club

Everyone is invited to attend the showing of John Adams’ 1987 opera “Nixon in China,” on Tuesday, March 19, at 2:30 p.m. in the Learning Center.

Composer Danielle O’Hallisey will introduce the opera, keeping the discussion brief and focusing mostly on historical context and a brief discussion of minimalism.

This opera by composer John Adams and the librettist Alice Goodman is a probing musical look at East-West tensions from a political/diplomatic event that occurred 15 years prior in 1972.

Act 1, set in 1972, depicts the arrival of Air Force 1 in Beijing where Richard and Pat Nixon greet Chou En-lai with respective diplomatic niceties. Next is a scene in Mao Tse-tung’s study where Pat Nixon expresses her feelings about humanitarian activities.

Act 2 reveals Pat Nixon’s tour of a commune and their arrival at the Summer Palace where they discuss politics with Mao Tsetung and his wife Chiang Ch’ing, along with the appearance of Henry Kissinger followed by a Chinese ballet.

The final scene, set in 1987, depicts Richard and Pat Nixon, along with Mao Tse-tung and his wife Chiang Ch’ing, and Chou En-Lai singing about their differing memories and perspectives.

Adams conducts this 2011 performance at the Metropolitan Opera. The production is in English with English subtitles. People are welcome to wear masks indoors. No dues or fees are collected.

For more information, contact Margaret Gillon at MargaretGi@yahoo.com or 562-370-3844.