The Well-Tempered Ear

Classical music review: Madison Symphony’s John DeMain gets raves for the “Nixon in China” he does in Vancouver

By Jacob Stockinger

Last Saturday, Madison maestro John DeMain (below top in a photo by Katrin Talbot), who is the music director and conductor of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Opera, got unanimous raves for the Vancouver Opera’s production of John Adam’s opera “Nixon in China” (below).

The Vancouver Opera production was the Canadian premiere of the 1987 opera, and DeMain, who gave the world premiere in Houston, has been in Vancouver since before the Olympics getting ready for the three performances.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/nixon-in-vancouver-a-triumphant-visit/article1500207/

http://www.straight.com/article-297731/vancouver/vancouver-operas-nixon-china-artful-triumph

http://www.vancouversun.com/Vancouver+Opera+Nixon+China+brilliant+Canadian+premiere/2682177/story.html

And there are more reviews to come and more videos to be seen (go Google and to YouTube and type into the search engine Vancouver Opera Nixon” and you can also see what Canadians say about Nixon the Politician as well as Nixon the Opera.

Do you have a message for John DeMain?

A comment about either the music of John Adams or “Nixon in China”?

The Ear wants to hear.