Starring Károly Szemerédy, Klára Kolonits, János Szemenyei, and Rita Rácz, John Adams’s opera Nixon in China returns to the Eiffel Art Studios between 20 to 24 November 2026. Exploring human relationships and the encounter between two very different cultures against the backdrop of the public events surrounding a historic summit, the production, directed by András Almási-Tóth, is presented three times. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by Gergely Vajda.
US President Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing in 1972 had already become a defining moment in Cold War history at the time. Drawing on documented events surrounding the diplomatic encounter, John Adams’s opera, with a libretto by Alice Goodman, gradually reveals the personal worlds of the two leaders and their wives. Beyond official negotiations and receptions, the story also explores the characters’ memories, desires and uncertainties, raising questions about the possibility of different and often conflicting world views existing side by side.
First performed in 1987, the opera combines the repetitive motifs of minimalism with the grand scale of opera and jazz-inflected sounds. As at the Hungarian premiere, Gergely Vajda leads the musical performance, conducting the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus (chorus director: Gábor Csiki). Adams’s music draws on both the classical tradition and American popular culture, while the orchestral palette is enriched by a synthesiser and five saxophones.
First staged in Hungary in September 2024, the production also makes use of the distinctive spaces of the Eiffel Art Studios’ Locomotive Hall as part of its storytelling. In András Almási-Tóth’s staging, the action unfolds across several locations, with projections, crowd scenes and dance sequences creating a spectacular operatic show. Evoking the world of pop art, the production features set, lighting and video design by Sebastian Hannak, costume design by Richárd Márton, movement direction by Eszter Lázár, and films by Zsombor Czeglédi.
In the autumn performances, Károly Szemerédy returns as Richard Nixon and Klára Kolonits as his wife, Pat Nixon. János Szemenyei makes his debut as Mao Tse-tung, while Rita Rácz portrays Chiang Ch'ing, Mao’s wife. Azat Malik appears as Chinese prime minister Chou En-lai and István Kovács as Henry Kissinger. Mao’s three secretaries are portrayed by Diána Ivett Kiss, Anna Csenge Fürjes, and Lusine Sahakyan.
Nixon in China is performed at 6.30 pm in the Locomotive Hall of the Eiffel Art Studios on 20, 22 and 24 November 2026. Sung in English, the opera is surtitled in Hungarian and English.
Photo by Attila Nagy
