I have my brief
Opera details:
Opera title: | Nixon in China |
Composer: | John Coolidge Adams |
Language: | English |
Synopsis: | Nixon in China Synopsis |
Libretto: | Nixon in China Libretto |
Translation(s): | Not entered yet. |
Aria details:
Type: | aria |
Role(s): | Henry Kissinger |
Voice(s): | Bass |
Act: | 2.11 |
| Previous scene: | Flesh rebels |
| Next scene: | It seems so strange |
Libretto/Lyrics/Text/Testo:
(The scene changes to the courtyard of the tyrant'smansion. Sleek Kuomintang officers, political bosses
and well-fed farmers celebrate their host's birthday.
Waiters pour wine as the guards display their military
training. Dance of the Mercenaries. Hung Chiang
Ch'ing enters, dressed as a foreign merchant. He
is accompanied by the President, who presents the
doorman with a red-and-gilt card. Lao Szu rushes
to greet these exotic guests)
KISSINGER
(as Lao Szu)
I have my brief.
I flatter myself.
I know my man.
The sine qua non
the face on the coin.
You see what I mean.
The empire builder,
the man with his shoulder
against the roulette wheel:
he stands like a stone wall
and sticks of success.
I'm here to liaise
with the backroom boys
who know how to live.
And me, I contrive
to catch a few crumbs...
The ringleaders' names
The gist of their schemes...
Loose change.
NIXON
Here friend, something for you.
You're talking like a real pro.
English Libretto or Translation:
Not entered yet.External links for I have my brief
| Sheetmusic for aria |  Sheetmusicplus.com |
| Sheetmusic for opera | Sheetmusicplus.com |
| MP3's for this aria | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |
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