Throughout the evening I’ll be blogging at the Canadian Premiere of Nixon in China, presented by the Vancouver Opera.
I’m currently setting up and getting ready for the other bloggers to arrive before we get a tour of the backstage. We have internet connection this time around and should hopefully be set for the evening. I’m hoping to update with some photos as well as my experience as this Opera takes place. Curtain goes up at 7:30pm and I hear it will be a 3 hour long production.
Tris Hussey’s fiance Shela is a performer at this event so it makes it extra special that he is one of the bloggers with us tonight.
So please stay tuned as the excitement builds.
Update 7:00pm
Just had our backstage tour of the production. Interesting to note that this is the most expensive Vancouver Opera produced to date. A total of $1..4 million dollars was spent. Based on some of the sets we’ve just seen this will be a great show. Starting with the Presidential Plane landing in China 
Update 7:23pm
We are about to head into our seats and enjoy the production. Doesn’t look like a full house this time around, but still a great attendance.
Update 8:45pm
First act has been completed and we are no seated at our tables again on display. I have to say the role of Richard Nixon played by Robert Orth is amazing. He has Nixon’s manerisms down pack and the visual of the plane landing in China is great. The stage director Michael Cavanagh, Lighting director Harry Frehner and Scenic Designer Erhard Rom have done an amazing job of visuals and landing a plane on stage.
Although this is modern opera sung in English, they do have the subtitles available and it comes in handy when there are multiple people singing different lines.
Update 11:00pm
The last act is now over and though I was lost after the last scene in the second act, I still enjoyed the production. now we are invited to the after party where I hope some food will be at hand.
Final Thoughts
I must admit that after the second scene in Act 2 started off great with the Nixons and Mao’s wife enjoying the ballet (which was beautifully danced), but then threw me for a loop as somehow Kissinger became apart of the ballet and had a small dance number with the principal ballerina. As the production continued into the last act, I was still a bit thrown off as to what was going on. There was a sense of a dream scape happening. It wasn’t later until the after party that someone explained to me what was going on. The last scene of Act 2 and into Act 3 are a dream scape, and this is happening in their minds.
That put aside, the production is amazing. The customs are top notch and the set design is truly wonderful. I can’t remember the last time I had such fun watching the set change form scene to scene and wondering what next is in store for the eyes senses.
The production continues on March 16th, 18th and 20th and well worth it just for the imagery alone on stage.
The following are my photos of the evening.
A pleasure to see you at the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China. Here is a link to my thoughts on the performance and the Vancouver Opera’s move to embrace social media; http://staceyrobinsmith.com/?p=599
See you soon!
.-= Stacey Robinsmith´s last blog ..Social Media at Vancouver Opera’s Nixon in China =-.
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