A CIRKUSZHERCEGNŐ

John Adams NIXON IN CHINA Opera in three acts, in English, with Hungarian and English surtitles

A century ago, the world first encountered this remarkable opus, a work that soon became one of the cornerstones of twentieth-century musical innovation. Premiered in 1926, the singspiel is a milestone in Hungarian music history: its composer, Zoltán Kodály, fulfilled his aspiration to elevate Hungarian folk song of ancient origin to the same status as classical music, by virtue of its equivalent values, placing it on the stage of the nation’s Opera House.

The Mexican-born tenor’s singing career began in an unusual way: baritone Arturo Nieto knocked on his door after hearing him sing and suggested he train his voice.