‘Nixon’ in London? Not yet

Peter Sellars has been stiffed again. His production of John Adams’ “Nixon in China” was to have opened the English National Opera’s season at the renovated London Coliseum on Feb. 7. But faced with a flurry of last-minute electrical glitches, the company has postponed the theater’s opening until Feb. 21 and canceled all performances of the Adams opera.

“Nixon in China” also was to have been one of two operas reopening London’s Covent Garden three years ago, but the production was canceled in mid-rehearsal because of construction delays.

Canceling “Nixon in China” has cost the English National Opera more than $500,000 in advance ticket sales, London papers reported. The money will be returned to ticket-buyers.

English National Opera Chief Executive Sean Doran said that “Nixon in China” would return to the company’s repertory with the announced cast, but not until next year at the earliest.