SCOTT HENDRICKS IN THE TITLE ROLE OF JOHN ADAM’S NIXON IN CHINA AT HOUSTON GRAND OPERA

On January 20, 2017 baritone Scott Hendricks makes his debut as the protagonist of John Adams’ Nixon in China, in a production by James Robinson and under the musical direction of Robert Spano.

Regarding the challenge of interpreting a controversial figure of the very recent past, Hendricks states that he will not limit himself to perform a stereotypical impersonation of the U.S. president, preferring to place emphasis on the epochal event at the center of the libretto, as well as Nixon’s relationships with those around him, particularly his wife.

Thanks to his dark sound combined with extraordinary histrionic skills and a compelling stage presence, the Texas born Hendricks feels equally at home in an extremely wide repertoire ranging from the Verdi and Puccini heroes and villains as well as in modern and contemporary music: he has made headlines for his portrayal of the title role in Szymanowski’s Król Roger, received rave reviews for his interpretations of Roderick in Peter Hammill’s The Fall of the House of Usher, Hamlet III in Wolfgang Rhim’s Die Hamletmaschine, the Traveller in Death in Venice, and created the title role in the world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli’s Richard III.

The baritone’s engagements in the 2016/17 season include Macbeth (title role) at La Monnaie in Brussels, a return to the Royal Opera House for Madama Butterfly (Sharpless), the title role of Nabucco at the Stuttgart Opera, The Cunning Little Vixen (Forester) at the Cologne Opera, and Carmen (Escamillo) at the Bregenz Festival.

Information about John Adam’s Nixon in China at Houston Grand Opera.

Scott Hendricks (President Nixon), Andriana Chucgman (Pat Nixon), Chen-Ye Yuan (Chou En-lai), Chad Shelton (Mao Tse-tung), Patrick Carfizzi (Henry Kissinger), Tracy Dahl (Chiang Ch’ing), Yelena Dyachek (First Secretary), Megan Mikailovna Samarin (Second Secretary), Zoie Reams (Third Secretary).

Robert Spano (conducor); James Robinson (Director).

Performances: January 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 at Houston Grand Opera.

https://www.houstongrandopera.org/scheduletickets/2016-17-season/performances/nixon-in-china/

[Photo by Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle]