The First Emperor

Today, jv3k and I went to see a rebroadcast of Tan Dun's The First Emperor. What is really cool about the way we saw it was that it was an HD simulcast of a live Metropolitan Opera performance.

I can only say (and jv3k can verify) that I was incredibly moved and inspired by this piece of music and its manner of presentation (in a movie theatre). The work itself had a solid first act with a questionable second act that needs some tightening up. The story was a bit weak. But - Dun's command of all the forces was quite impressive. The man knows how to conjure up imagery in sound. During the intermission, it was revealed that he really had total creative control of the work. It was unbelievable to see the amount of respect he was payed when directing not only the music but the blocking and acting as well! Even in the movie theatre (where he can't hear us) there was the most applause for Placido Domingo (that is predictable) and Dun. I was so moved by the whole experience:

• The thoroughly contemporary nature of the piece: it feels like something written today with today's values in mind (all values)
• The pure respect paid to Dun's vision of what his work was meant to be
• The use of today's cathedral of entertainment - the cinema - as a medium of delivery for the revered and not dead form of entertainment of the past - the opera.
• The wonderful melodies, harmonies, and colors that Dun created

This piece makes me want to write music. I feel even more sure about how I should be teaching, how I should be writing, and how I should be living. But - execution of how things should be is tough.

If you are interested in the Met in HD broadcasts, click here.