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Tan Dun: The First Emperor (Live from the Met)

Wu Hsing-Kuo, Michelle DeYoung, Plácido Domingo, Haijing Fu, Hao Jiang Tian, Sarah Coburn, Susanne Mentzer, Paul Groves, Danrell Williams, Dou Dou Huang, Qi Yao / The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet, Tan Dun

Series: DVD

Released: 15/09/2008

Cat. No: 2151299

Format: DVD

Number Of Discs: 2

Barcode: 5099921512995

Legendary tenor, Plácido Domingo stars in the visually stunning opera, The First Emperor, by Academy Award winning composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) - Filmed live at the Metropolitan Opera in High-definition. EMI Classics continues its Metropolitan Opera : Live in High-Definition DVD series with the Metropolitan Opera's world-premiere of Tan Dun and Ha Jin's "The First Emperor". Commissioned by the MET in the mid-1990s, this spectacular new production was one of the most highly anticipated cultural events of the 2006-07 Metropolitan Opera season. The Opera tells of Emperor Qin’s quest for a national anthem for his new country and his ill-fated decision to force a rebellious but talented young composer to write it. Tragedy results following the composer’s love affair with the emperor’s crippled daughter, including the deaths of three principal characters. Plácido Domingo, as Emperor Qin, leads an all-star ensemble in this classic story, ideally suited to the opera stage. The First Emperor combines the expressive power of traditional ancient Chinese singing with the long musical lines of Italian Opera. This juxtaposition of musical cultures illustrates Tan Dun’s musical style and influences perfectly. In his music not only East and West but ancient and modern coexist. One of just six composers to conduct their own works at the Met, Tan Dun lead all the performances of the first run of the opera. Revered Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou (Hero, Raise the Red Lantern) directs and was instrumental in the opera’s creation, having worked closely with Tan Dun while he composed the music. The costumes are designed by Emi Wada, who won an Oscar for her work in the 1986 movie Ran. Over the course of a year and a half, Wada designed over 600 costumes. The quality of Wada’s exceptional work is apparent throughout.
Tracklisting

The First Emperor

Disc 1

Opening titles

Introduction by Zhang Ziyi

Act I: Shadow

Scene 1

In Chinese: Two thousand years ago...(Yin-Yang Master)

Ha wu ka hashi wu (Chorus, Yin-Yang Master)

Come spirits of awesome power (Shaman, Chorus, Yin-Yang Master)

Silence! Silence! Is this music? (Emperor, Chorus, Chief Minister, General Wang, Princess Yueyang, Mother)

The Shadow that haunts me wherever I go (Emperor)

General Wang, once you find the Shadow (Emperor, General Wang, Princess Yueyang, Mother, Chief Minister, Shaman, Chorus, Yin-Yang Master)

Scene 2

Zhong Guo, Zhong Guo (Emperor, Chief Minister, General Wang)

Father, can this be the shadow? (Princess Yueyang, Emperor, General Wang, Gao Jianli, Chief Minister)

Intermezzo

Scene 3

The wind sent me the news of snow (Princess Yueyang)

Has the shadow changed his mind? (Emperor, Chief Minister, Princess Yueyang)

Sage of music (Princess Yueyang, Gao Jianli)

Ah, I can walk! (Princess Yueyang, Gao Jianli, Shaman, Emperor, General Wang)

Forever I'm bound to the man (Princess Yueyang, Gao Jianli, Shaman)

Like water - like fire (Gao Jianli, Princess Yeuyang, General, Chief Minister, Emperor, Yin-Yang Master)

Act II: Anthem

Scene 1

Disc 2

Beyond the Great Wall (Gao Jianli, Princess Yueyang)

Hei zo hei zo zo (Slave men, General, Shaman)

Jianli, how is you composition? (Emperor, Gao Jianli, Slave men, Princess Yueyang, Mother)

My Lord, please master your temper (Mother, Princess Yueyang, Emperor)

Our own happiness is nothing (Emperor, Gao Jianli, Slave men)

Scene 2

Intermezzo

Glory! The Emperor shinse like the morning sun (Chorus, Gao Jianli)

Now let the Emperor ascend! (Gao Jianli)

Ritual Dance (Yin-Yang Master, Principal Dancer, Chorus, Shaman, Emperor, Mother)

Beloved Papa, it was not the General (Princess Yueyang, Emperor, Chorus)

The Bell of Heaven rings (Emperor, Chorus, Shaman, Emperor, Yin-Yang Master)

Your Majesty (General Wang, Emperor)

O Death! (Emperor, Chorus, Gao Jianli)

My heart is like your wound, bleeding (Emperor, Chorus)

O, we are building the dream (Chorus, Emperor)

End credits

Videoclips
Excerpts from Dan Dun's 'The First Emperor' live from the MET

Press Reviews

‘Mesmerizing, captivating, exhilarating, moving, dramatic, explosive, and lyrical’ - About.com

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