Adams: Nixon In China / Orth, DeDominici, Alsop, Colorado Symphony

$25.99
Label
Naxos
Release Date
October 27, 2009
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      ADAMS, JOHN
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Colorado Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
    • PERFORMER
      Alsop, Kanyova, Orth, Heller, Dahl, Hammons, Yuan, Malde, Sims
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Act I Scene 1: Beginning

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    2. Act I Scene 1: Soldiers of heaven hold the sky (Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    3. Act I Scene 1: The people are the heroes now (Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    4. Act I Scene 1: Landing of the Spirit of '76

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    5. Act I Scene 1: Your flight was smooth, I hope? (Chou, Nixon)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Chen-Ye Yuan, Robert Orth

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    6. Act I Scene 1: News has a kind of mystery (Nixon, Chou, Kissinger, Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yuan, Thomas Hammons

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    7. Act I Scene 2: Beginning - I can't talk very well. My throat… (Mao, Nixon, Chou, Kissinger, 3 Secretaries)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Marc Heller, Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yuan, Thomas Hammons, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    8. Act I Scene 2: You know we'll meet with your confrere, the Democratic candidate (Mao, Nixon, Kissinger)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Marc Heller, Robert Orth, Thomas Hammons

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    9. Act I Scene 2: You've said that there's a certain well-known tree (Chou, Nixon, Mao, Kissinger, 3 Secretaries)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Chen-Ye Yuan, Robert Orth, Marc Heller, Thomas Hammons, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    10. Act I Scene 2: Founders come first, then profiteers (Mao, 3 Secretaries, Nixon, Chou, Kissinger)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Marc Heller, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici, Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yuan, Thomas Hammons

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    11. Act I Scene 2: We no longer need Confucius (Mao, 3 Secretaries)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Marc Heller, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    12. Act I Scene 2: Like the Ming Tombs (Nixon, 3 Secretaries, Mao, Chou)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici, Marc Heller, Chen-Ye Yuan

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    13. Act I Scene 3: Beginning - The night is young (Nixon, Pat, Chou, Kissinger, Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Maria Kanyova, Chen-Ye Yuan, Thomas Hammons

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    14. Act I Scene 3: Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends (Chou, Chorus, Pat, Kissinger)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Chen-Ye Yuan, Maria Kanyova, Thomas Hammons

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    15. Act I Scene 3: Mr. Premier, distinguished guests (Nixon, Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    16. Act I Scene 3: Cheers! (Chorus, Nixon, Chou, Pat, Kissinger)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yuan, Maria Kanyova, Thomas Hammons

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    17. Act II Scene 1: Beginning - I don't daydream and don't look back (Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    18. Act II Scene 1: Look down at the earth (Chorus, Pat, 3 Secretaries)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Maria Kanyova, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    19. Act II Scene 1: This is prophetic! (Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    20. Act II Scene 1: At last the weather's warming up (Pat, Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    21. Act II Scene 2: Beginning - Young as we are (3 Secretaries)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    22. Act II Scene 2: O what a day I thought I'd die! (Kissinger as Lao Szu, Chorus as Ching-hua, 3 Secretaries, Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Hammons, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici, Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    23. Act II Scene 2: Whip her to death! (Kissinger as Lao Szu, Pat, Nixon)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Hammons, Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    24. Act II Scene 2: Tropical Storm: There there, there there (Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    25. Act II Scene 2: Flesh Rebels (Chorus as Militia)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    26. Act II Scene 2: I have my brief (Kissinger as Lao Szu, Nixon)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Hammons, Robert Orth

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    27. Act II Scene 2: It seems so strange (Chorus as Ching-hua, Chiang Ch'ing, Pat, Nixon, 3 Secretaries)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Tracy Dahl, Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth, Melissa Malde, Julie Simson, Jennifer DeDominici

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    28. Act II Scene 2: I am the wife of Mao Tse-tung (Chiang Ch'ing, Chorus)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Opera Colorado Chorus, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Tracy Dahl

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    29. Act III: Beginning

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    30. Act III: Some men you cannot satisfy (Kissinger, Nixon, Pat, Chou, Chiang Ch'ing)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Hammons, Robert Orth, Maria Kanyova, Chen-Ye Yuan, Tracy Dahl

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    31. Act III: I am no one (Mao, Chou, Kissinger, Chiang Ch'ing, Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Marc Heller, Chen-Ye Yuan, Thomas Hammons, Tracy Dahl, Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    32. Act III: The Maos Dance (Chiang Ch'ing, Mao, Pat, Nixon, Chou)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller, Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yuan

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    33. Act III: Sitting around the radio (Nixon, Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    34. Act III: Let us examine what you did (Mao, Chiang Ch'ing, Chou)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Marc Heller, Tracy Dahl, Chen-Ye Yuan

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    35. Act III: When I woke up I dimly realized the Jap Bombers had given us a miss (Nixon, Pat)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Maria Kanyova

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    36. Act III: I have no offspring (Chou, Mao, Chiang Ch'ing)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Chen-Ye Yuan, Marc Heller, Tracy Dahl

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    37. Act III: I can keep still (Chiang Ch'ing)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Tracy Dahl

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    38. Act III: After that the sweat had soaked my uniform (Nixon, Pat, Chiang Ch'ing, Mao, Chou)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Robert Orth, Maria Kanyova, Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller, Chen-Ye Yuan

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    39. Act III: Peking watches the stars (Chiang Ch'ing, Mao)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    40. Act III: You won at poker (Pat, Nixon, Chiang Ch'ing, Mao)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth, Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller

      Conductor: Marin Alsop

    41. Act III: I am old and I cannot sleep (Chou)

      Composer: John Adams

      Ensemble: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Chen-Ye Yuan

      Conductor: Marin Alsop


"She leads the score with grand sweep and understanding, and her Colorado forces bring out its colors vividly; moreover, she inspires her cast to sing as if they're having a great time with this no-longer-new but still odd opera."


Nonesuch's 1987 recording of this opera, produced when the work was new, was revelatory. Though clearly a piece of mimimalism, it did not rely only on endless repetition; indeed, Adams' musical language was varied enough to make Nixon in China a fascinating opera despite very little action and a somewhat unrevealing text by Alice Goodman. The Nixons and the events of the 1972 visit came across as oddly shallow. It's clear now that that was the point: Nixon's first-act rant, "News has a kind of mystery", is much the key to the opera.

It also seems wittier and more purposefully ironic now, with Kissinger's villainy almost overshadowed by his ladykilling; Pat Nixon's innocence almost charming (we've seen worse since); Madame Mao's berserk aria even more pointedly wacky and funny; and the contrast between Chou En-lai's philosophizing and Richard Nixon's simplemindedness clearer than ever. During the toasts in the third scene of the first act, Chou's toast, an eloquent paean to the future ("Our children race downhill unflustered into peace..."), is accompanied by even arpeggios; when Nixon's clichés take over ("a vote of thanks to one and all who made this possible"), we're jarred into paying attention to his mundanity by disconnected, disparate tones. It's masterly.

Each scene in the first act still strikes me as a few minutes too long, but Act 2, particularly with the spectacular and varied music for the surreal opera performance, is riveting. The frustrating last act is oblique in its dramatic thrust (it features personal reflections from all of the characters except, tellingly, Kissinger), but it is food for thought even if it is a dramatic anti-climax. It's a strange, quiet way to end an opera--but take it for what it is.

This new recording, taken from a live performance at Denver's Ellie Caulkins Opera House in June, 2008, is brilliant. It is sonically way ahead of the Nonesuch (which was recorded at a very low level), thus making it possible to understand almost every word, and Marin Alsop's tempos are slightly slower than Edo de Waart's, which also helps comprehension. She leads the score with grand sweep and understanding, and her Colorado forces bring out its colors vividly; moreover, she inspires her cast to sing as if they're having a great time with this no-longer-new but still odd opera.

Robert Orth's Nixon has just the right amount of self-parody that "playing" Nixon requires--the distance between 1987 and now is very long and we can sense ironies from our vantage point that we were blind to then. Maria Kanyova's Pat also seems more sympathetic while remaining as publicly simple as she always was, and Kanyova's voice and diction are splendid. Marc Heller handles Mao's high tessitura, sometimes bordering on madness, with great character and flavor. Chen-Ye Yuan's Chou is beautifully sung and he captures both the character's joylessness and intelligence. Thomas Hammons (also on the Nonesuch recording) uses his dark, growling bass to show us everything we need to know about the cynical Kissinger, and Tracy Dahl, as Madame Mao, is pretty frightening, even while delivering her Queen of the Night-like aria.

There's not much to decide between this set and the Nonesuch, which is still available. As mentioned, this new one is sonically superior (and cheaper), but otherwise it's pretty much a tie. Naxos, like Nonesuch, supplies a libretto; Nonesuch's booklet has superb essays and a better synopsis.

--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com (10/10!)