Track Listing

1. Act I, Scene I: Beginning
2. Act I, Scene I: Soldiers of Heaven Hold the Sky
3. Act I, Scene I: The People are the Heroes Now
4. Act I, Scene I: Landing of the Spirit of '76
5. Act I, Scene I: Your Flight was Smooth, I Hope?
6. Act I, Scene I: News has a Kind of Mystery
7. Act I, Scene 3 (Excerpt): Ladies and Gentlemen, Com
8. Act I, Scene 3 (Excerpt): Mr. Premier, Distinguishe
9. Act I, Scene 3 (Excerpt): Cheers
10. Act II, Scene 1 (Excerpt): This Is Porphetic!
11. Act II, Scene 1 (Excerpt): At Last the Weather's Wa
12. Act II, Scene 2 (Excerpt): Beginning
13. Act II, Scene 2 (Excerpt): Oh What a Day I Thought
14. Act II, Scene 2 (Excerpt): Whip Her To Death
15. Act II, Scene 2 (Excerpt): Tropical Storm
16. Act II, Scene 2 (Excerpt): I Am the Wife of Mao Tse

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #153822 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Impressions of Nixon in China
I am moved to comment on the highlights album of John Adams's Nixon in China after seeing the English National Opera production in London last Wednesday 14 June. The music is compelling, exciting and appealing to an audience much wider than usual for opera. I bought the album at the opera shop next to the Coliseum. James Maddelena created the part of Nixon (and appeared in the London production). The recording is thirteen years old and wears its years well. All performances are superb. The Orchestra of St Luke's, less well known in the UK, perhaps, is a revelation. The recording reaches the highest standard. I encourage listeners to get a hold of this album. It is a great introduction to the music of John Adams, for me the most exciting modern composer since Benjamin Britten.

An excellent opportunity to hear a beautiful work
I actually don't have the highlight C.D. but I own the opera that all the excerpts are from. The ones they chose represent some of the best parts of this simultaneously humorous and profound work. While clearly belonging to the Minimalist camp, this opera makes its debt subtle. Those used to the ostinato patterns of Glass won't find that same regularity here. The patterns, clearly minimalist in conception, change frequently so that every few seconds meters change, harmonies are altered and parts are added or diminished. It also doesn't possess the spiritual or "new-ageyness" that marks other minimalist efforts. This opera is firmly rooted in a more practical dramatic ethos. The libretto is by the far the best in some time. Alice Goodman's writing is able to be humorous, coarse, profound, flippant and descriptive throughout providing an equal balance throughout.

The "News" aria sung by Nixon upon his arrival to Peking shows both the accessibility of the music and its unmistakeable originality. The word "News" sung repeatedly gives both a comic touch to the proceedings while effectively hightening the sense of Nixon's wonderment at this moment.

The most profound section of this work is also included in the excerpts, "Ladies and Gentlemen" Chou en Lai's speech to open the proceedings. Sanford Sylvan sings the words beautifully and allows all the play of the text to resound with the listener. Adams' music is unfailing in its ability to characterize the emotional implications of the words cluminating in the final statement of "From vision to inheritence" that is breathtaking.

Please email me if you have any questions regarding this wonderful work.

Thanks.

I love this cd!
I picked this up on the recommendation of an opera-freak friend. I listen to it all the time, and every one I've lent it to has also loved it. John Adams' music doesn't feel minimalist to me, although I recognize the heritage. It is such a powerful opera...heroic, grand, and sometimes even funny. But I honestly get goosebumps (and even teary-eyed) almost every time I hear it. I have decided that if I ever hear of this opera being performed anywhere in the world I'll have to go. I hope it's in this country...