John Adams's "The Death Of Klinghoffer" Receives Metropolitan Opera Premiere

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Nonesuch Records) Composer John Adams's 1991 opera The Death of Klinghoffer receives its Metropolitan Opera premiere tonight, the first of eight performances during the Met's 2014-15 season. This is the third work by Adams to be staged at the Met, following his Doctor Atomic in 2008 and Nixon in China in 2011 (which also saw the composer's Met debut at the podium). This co-production of the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera is directed by Tom Morris (War Horse), with David Robertson conducting and baritone Paulo Szot starring in the leading role.

The Death of Klinghoffer, with a libretto by Alice Goodman, addresses the 1985 terrorist hijacking of the Achille Lauro ocean liner. Upon its 1991, Peter Sellars-directed premiere, the New York Times said the work "transmutes contemporary history into operatic poetry." Following the debut of the new production at the English National Opera in February of 2012, the work's London premiere, the Guardian called it "a major achievement ... a serious, beautiful and nuanced work that engages with one of the intractable tragedies of our era." The Financial Times called the piece "Adams at his best."

Nonesuch Records released the first recording of The Death of Klinghoffer, featuring James Maddalena and the Orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon, in 1992.
For additional details on the Metropolitan Opera performances of The Death of Klinghoffer and to purchase tickets now, visit metoperafamily.org.