Pulitzer-Winning Composer John Adams Reflects on Opera’s Role in Modern Storytelling

John Adams discusses his controversial works, the challenges of classical music today, and upcoming productions of his operas.

John Adams, known for operas addressing modern political events, revisited his career during a Toronto Symphony Orchestra visit.
His groundbreaking 1987 opera, 'Nixon in China,' explored Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China and remains a landmark in contemporary opera.
Adams's 'The Death of Klinghoffer,' based on a 1985 hijacking, faced criticism and protests, with a new production planned for 2026 in Florence by director Luca Guadagnino.
His Pulitzer-winning composition 'On the Transmigration of Souls' commemorated 9/11 victims through a deeply emotional orchestral and choral piece.
Adams highlighted the declining cultural prominence of classical music and emphasized its enduring power to address complex issues.