AllMovie

Famed tenor Placido Domingo headlines this December 2006 stage production of Tan Dun's unique opera The First Emperor, mounted by Raise the Red Lantern director Zhang Yimou. Dun composed the score and conducts; he also co-authored the libretto with Ha Jin, adapting both historical records by Sima Qian and the screenplay The Legend of the Bloody Zheng by Lu Wei. This filmed outing bears an unusual footnote, as one in a series of early 21st century filmed operas released to mainstream theaters by New York's Metropolitan Opera in High Definition (HD) format. It contains not merely the said opera, but interviews with the various participants conducted by the late Beverly Sills, and extensive behind-the-scenes footage.