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Sein großer Auftritt - Deutsche Oper Berlin

His big occasion

Photos are what determine public opinion. Richard Nixon’s state visit to Communist China was an event that changed the way politics was covered in the media. Trivia took the place of politics, photo calls superseded signed agreements.

Photos are what determine public opinion. Richard Nixon’s state visit to Communist China was an event that changed the way politics was covered in the media. Trivia took the place of politics, photo calls superseded signed agreements. The visit set a benchmark in staged events that survives today.

It was a state visit marked by superlatives. When his plane touched down on 21st February 1972 in Peking, Richard Nixon became the first US President to visit the Communist People’s Republic of China. The trip had been planned months in advance. Almost a third of Nixon’s 300-strong entourage was made up of reporters, photographers and TV technicians.

As the world looked on with bated breath, Chinese Premier Chou En-lai shook the hand of the arch-enemy on the airport tarmac and a Chinese band struck up the American national anthem. A six-day programme of intensive tourism followed: the Great Wall, imperial tombs, Forbidden City, every box ticked. Talks yielded little but ushered in a change in the style of media coverage. Nixon was up for re-election in the autumn and the summit guaranteed him ceaseless media exposure.

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»We came in peace for all mankind.«
Richard Nixon

 

Instead of politics, the public were served trivia. When Chairman Mao, against expectations, met Nixon on the first day, the FAZ headlined with »Nixon received by Mao immediately«. As the content of the talks was secret, the media resorted to interpreting gestures and facial expressions.

Reports of labour camps or jailed dissidents? Nothing of the kind. Nixon drinking tea at the foot of the Wall? Breaking news! Nixon’s wife visits a People’s commune, is shown some very contented pigs, an acupuncture clinic, a school, a glass factory. And the media track their every move, noting all gifts exchanged, including an ancient jade receptacle, some bottles of Mao-Tai schnaps and two panda bears – in return for the two musk oxen that Nixon brought with him.

Nixon was feted on his return, referring to a week that changed the world. »A triumph of international politics« enthused »Die Zeit«. Four months later a janitor in Washington D.C. phoned the police to report a break-in at the Watergate office building, the HQ of the Democratic Party, triggering another major event that the world would come to associate with the name Richard Nixon.

 

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19
DEC

Adventskalender im Foyer: Das 19. Fensterchen

Today in the foyer: ‘Christmas and Winter Songs’
performed by the junior section of the children's chorus, conducted by Rosemarie Arzt
and Jens Holzkamp (piano)
5.00 p.m. / Parkettfoyer
Duration: approx. 25 minutes / free admission


In the junior section of the children's chorus, children from the second grade onwards learn how to use their voices and are carefully prepared for opera literature for children's choruses. Before taking to the main stage with works such as CARMEN, LA BOHÈME or HÄNSEL UND GRETEL and THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN, the young artists experience what it is like to be in the spotlight and sing in front of an audience in smaller performances. And traditionally, the performance as part of the Advent calendar is one of these first opportunities to prove themselves. Today, you can listen to a South African traditional by the Zulu people, ‘Hambani kahle’, followed by winter songs such as ‘Juchhe der erste Schnee’, ‘Hei, hei, hei so eine Schneeballschlacht’ or ‘Der Schneemann’. And after these songs have got us in the mood for the cold, but above all white season, it will be really Christmassy with ‘Bald nun ist Weihnachtszeit’, ‘Was poltert durch das Haus’, ‘Du bist der Weihnachtsmann’, ‘1000 tolle Plätzchen’, ‘Sind die Lichter angezündet’ and ‘Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter brennen’. And then, of course, there is a greeting from wintry Scandinavia with ‘Tomtarnass Julnatt’. So look forward to our youngest artists under the direction of Rosemarie Arzt. They will be accompanied on the grand piano by our solo repetiteur Jens Holzkamp.