Nixon in China opera premieres at Opéra Bastille

The acclaimed 2023 production by director Valentina Carrasco brings the historic 1972 meeting between President Nixon and Chairman Mao to the Paris stage.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:44pm

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After nearly 40 years since its premiere in Houston, Texas, John Adams' opera Nixon in China has finally made its way to the Opéra Bastille in Paris. This revival of Valentina Carrasco's acclaimed 2023 staging draws inspiration from the 'ping-pong diplomacy' that led to the historic meeting between US President Richard Nixon and Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The production features an 80-strong chorus miming a table tennis tournament, a giant eagle representing Air Force One, and a basement where confiscated books are burned, highlighting the political tensions between the two superpowers.

Why it matters

Nixon in China is considered a 20th century operatic classic, and this production at the Opéra Bastille marks a significant milestone in the work's history. The opera explores the complex diplomatic relations between the US and China, a relationship that has continued to evolve in the decades since Nixon's groundbreaking visit. By revisiting this pivotal moment, the production invites the audience to reflect on the lasting impact of that encounter.

The details

The production features several memorable visual elements, including the mimed table tennis tournament on stage and the suspended ping-pong tables in Act 3. The libretto, written by Alice Goodman, refuses to take sides on the political differences between the US and China, but director Valentina Carrasco makes her own stance clear by including an excerpt from the 1979 documentary 'From Mao to Mozart', which outlines the persecution of musicians during China's Cultural Revolution.

  • The opera Nixon in China premiered in Houston, Texas in 1987.
  • Peter Sellars' original production of the opera appeared in Bobigny, Paris in 1991.
  • Valentina Carrasco's acclaimed 2023 staging of the opera is now being revived at the Opéra Bastille in Paris in 2026.

The players

John Adams

The composer of the opera Nixon in China, which premiered in 1987 and is now considered a 20th century classic.

Alice Goodman

The librettist who wrote the text for the opera Nixon in China.

Valentina Carrasco

The director of the acclaimed 2023 staging of Nixon in China, which is now being revived at the Opéra Bastille in Paris.

Richard Nixon

The former President of the United States, whose historic 1972 visit to China is the subject of the opera Nixon in China.

Mao Zedong

The former Chairman of the Communist Party of China, who met with President Nixon in 1972, an event that is the focus of the opera Nixon in China.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Opéra Bastille's production of Nixon in China is expected to continue its run through the spring of 2026, with potential for future revivals and international tours.

The takeaway

Nixon in China remains a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the complex diplomatic relations between the United States and China, a relationship that continues to evolve decades after the historic meeting that inspired the opera. This production at the Opéra Bastille cements the work's status as a 20th century classic and invites audiences to reflect on the lasting impact of that pivotal moment in history.