The First Emperor
(Image courtesy of Danny)
I got totally lucked out and seized the last minute tickets for the already sold out opera.
It is especially intriguing for me, because of the theme "the First Emperor" and the crew are formidable: Placido Domingo, Tan Dun, Zhang Yimou and etc ... As the critics said: "My guess is that a large number of the ticket-holders are opera neophytes attracted by the novelty of this project and hoping for a grand theatrical experience."
He is right, at least for my case. Over all, the scene/costume/lighting/acting are splendid! Just amazing, the music is kinda wicked, technical but too long and lack of the final echo in my head.
I have to agree with most of the comments from NY Times:
"Mr. Domingo, who at nearly 66 is still ambitious, still taking chances and challenging himself."
"The set by Fan Yue is dominated by stairs through which you can sometimes glimpse colored banners and assembled masses. Descending from ropes above the stage is an intricate network of stones, representing both the writing tablets on which the emperor codified the Chinese language and the blocks of the Great Wall, with which his name is associated."
-- This is so smart, shows the witty of Chinese people.
Emi Wada has created 400 wildly colored costumes."
-- The costume is spendid
"lighting by Duane Schuler"
-- Since I am sensitive to lighting, I can feel it a big plus to the whole setting, bravo!