John Adams, influenced by minimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass, uses restricted harmonic vocabulary and a steady pulse, altering these elements to reflect dramatic action.
Composer Biography
John Adams, a highly respected American composer, won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his work On the Transmigration of Souls, written to mark the first anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.
Composition History
John Adams's opera Nixon in China was co-commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, premiering in 1987.
Performer Biography
Marin Alsop, the conductor for this recording, is the first woman to head a major American orchestra, serving as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2007.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer John Adams and librettist Alice Goodman researched the historic 1972 Nixon visit to China by poring over news magazines, television newscasts, and other media coverage.
Performer Biography
Thomas Hammons, who plays Henry Kissinger, created the role in the 1987 world premiere of Nixon in China and has performed it in numerous productions worldwide.
Recording & Production
This live recording of Nixon in China was inspired by conductor Marin Alsop's dedication to performing and promoting major twentieth-century works.
