China On My Mind

Politics over dim sum: Nixon on his historical trip to China

As the nation is focused on the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House this week, we look back to a trip that President Richard Nixon made to China in 1972. Opera News visits composer Peter Sellars as he is about to make his Metropolitan Opera debut with Nixon in China. 

Trivia: 9-year old Sasha Obama is studying Chinese in school and had a chance to practice her skills with the Chinese President after a reception for the dignitary. No word on whether the MET will try and create some sort of creative marketing tie-in for the opening of the opera.

President and First Lady Obama welcome China's Hu Jintao to the White House (Doug Mills/NYTimes)