Nixon in China by John Adams: Adams vs. Glass

John Adams and Phillip glass are the two great composers of American opera in the 1980-2000s. Most opera fans have a clear preference for one over the other. Adams is more traditional and topical. Glass is more Avant-garde and innovative. This is similar to the rivalry between the French film directors Francois Truffaut and Jean Luc Godard.

For this meeting, we watch the key arias from Adam’s great opera, Nixon in china.
YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEs5cKgHk_0

We may also watch an excerpt from the Chinese film the white haired girl, in which the opera borrows from.

We will also compare the great arias for both Adams and glass and vote for our favorite:
Adams: Leon Klinghoffer – I have never been a violent man YouTube link - https://youtu.be/hxqeemwcvjQ
Glass: Akhnaten - Hymn to the Sun YouTube link - https://youtu.be/a8svkjBxNyA